A FIRM providing wood flooring and underfloor heating systems has bucked the trend to increase its business – and recruit more staff.
Warmawood Group, based at Miry Lane, Thongsbridge, said sales of its products were rising as homeowners and developers sought to improve the energy efficiency of their properties and focus on renewable energy in the light of Government targets to reduce the nation’s carbon footprint.
The company, headed by managing director Ian Roberton, is market leader in providing bespoke oak flooring for the underfloor heating industry.
Its latest expansion phase follows its successful appearance earlier this year at the National Homebuilding & Renovating Show, held at the NEC in Birmingham. It has also launched two new products and unveiled a new website and brochure in the past few months.
Warmawood is also opening new premises and a renewable energy centre – the only one of its kind in Yorkshire. It has also assembled a new fleet of vans for its national installation team.
The company has attracted outside investment and is getting advice on improving its operations from Dean Morgan, of the Manufacturing Advisory Service in Yorkshire.
Mr Roberton said: “Warmawood is experiencing massive growth as renewable energies are on the increase with the government’s push to reduce our carbon footprint by 20% by 2010.
“As Warmawood continues to expand, we have made a number of new appointments to bring the head office team to 20 employees.”
The new recruits include Lisa Hyde as sales executive, Nicky Brown as PA to Mr Roberton, data entry officer Rebecca Mills, installations manager Kevin Devlin and Katrina Hawkins as marketing and public relations director.
Ms Hyde joins the company with extensive experience as a sales negotiator and team leader in estate agency and property valuation.
Ms Browne, who has been with the company six years, is promoted to PA from the post of installations manager while Ms Mills joins Warmawood’s graduate programme. She is a second year student at Leeds University studying English language.
Mr Devlin joins Warmawood after four years in the building industry and previous experience in a Royal Navy and as a firefighter. He is a qualified maintenance fitter.
Australian Ms Hawkins joins the company after working for market leaders including Diageo, Pernod Ricard and SC Johnson at an international level in marketing, strategy development, sales, promotions and PR. She has degrees in business and commerce and text writing and philosophy.
