A COMPANY selling high-class motorhomes is gearing up for further export success.

Shepley-based Wellhouse Leisure – already established as one of the UK’s premier convertors of compact motorhomes – is set to export flat pack conversion units to motor dealers in Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

The move follows help from the Manufacturing Advisory Service in Yorkshire and Humber.

MAS is jointly funded by regional development agency Yorkshire Forward and the European Regional Development Fund.

Managed by YFM Business Development, a subsidiary of YFM Group, it provides “hands on” advice and support to manufacturing businesses to improve productivity and efficiency.

Wellhouse Leisure was founded seven years ago, employs 18 people and has a turnover of £2.5m.

The company imports hi-spec vehicles, mainly from Japan, which it converts into flexible motorhomes and displays for sale in its purpose-built showroom.

David Elliott, managing director, said: “We are experiencing a huge increase in interest in our vehicles – partly due to the pound plunging in value against other currencies, which is leading people to increasingly look for cost effective alternatives for their holidays.”

Business Link put Mr Elliott in touch with MAS to carry out a review of his manufacturing operations.

MAS consultant Dean Morgan undertook a 10-day review designed to optimise the firm’s manufacturing productivity and establish management techniques to support business performance improvements.

He also referred the company to the government’s export support arm UKTI, which provided Wellhouse with funding to produce a company DVD to market its range of products.

The results of the MAS intervention have been far reaching – with a 100% improvement in employee productivity and vehicle production up from eight to 11 a month.

Sales have risen by £150,000 and a new job has been created.

Another MAS adviser, Alistair Manning is now working with Wellhouse Leisure to improve its quality processes and achieve ISO 9001 accreditation.

That will enable the company to comply with new regulations being introduced in 2012 and to win larger contracts.