HAULAGE firm The Pink Link is a familiar name on the roads around Huddersfield.

The Netherton-based company provides a nationwide palletised distribution service - and runs eye-catching bright pink lorries.

The family-owned business offers a unique range of services from delivery to storage.

Earlier this year, the firm launched a service delivering small consignments to mainland Europe.

The firm is distributing to Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Denmark, France and Germany through Palletways, a distribution network which numbers The Pink Link among its member companies.

Palletways aims to create the first pan-European pallet network operation within the next three years. The company is already developing its next network to cover Spain and Portugal, which will go live later this year.

Andel Ltd

ANDEL Ltd is the UK's largest leak detection company.

The Marsden-based business won the Queen's Award for Innovation in 2001 - since when it has gone on from strength to strength, increasing exports and expanding into new areas.

The company competed against larger US firms by offering a total package of services covering design and manufacturing, installation and ongoing service and maintenance.

It has developed electronic monitors and sensors to detect water leaks from pipes, tanks and washrooms in buildings such as art galleries, museums, libraries, banks, universities and prisons.

It has set up Pollution Prevention Ltd to advise firms on meeting regulations for oil storage.

And it has exported to customers in Australia, the USA, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, France, China, Holland, the Gulf States, Ireland, Singapore and Malaysia.

Andel has also established a company in Poland, Andel Polska, to break into the East Europe market.

Property Search Group

FORMER policewoman and mother of four Julie Hester founded the Property Search Group in 1997 to provide property search services for solicitors handling house sales.

She was joined by husband Gary the following year.

Having proved the viability of the business, the first franchise was granted in 1999 and by the end of 2000, a further 31 franchise offices had been opened.

Now, the company, born out of an office based in the spare bedroom at Mrs Hester's Netherton home, has franchises at 86 sites across the UK and is the largest provider of packaged conveyancing products in the country.

All the franchisees give work to each other and support each other in a way that is unprecedented in franchising.

PSG Franchising, based at Trinity Street in Huddersfield, has built a quality brand by recruiting quality people into the network.

PSG Franchising became the first private search company to join the Council of Mortgage Lenders in 2001.