A COMPANY achieving impressive growth in difficult market conditions has been recognised with an award.
Shepley-based Wellhouse Leisure, which specialises in manufacturing motorhomes and camper vans, won the Business of the Month Award run by Huddersfield law firm Eaton Smith in association with the Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and UK Trade & Investments.
Managing director David Elliott received the award from Eaton Smith partner Alison Palmer at a presentation at the law firm’s High Street offices.
Wellhouse started in 2003 by importing compact people carriers from Japan and turning them into camper vans. Starting with just three staff, the company has grown to employ 27 people and has opened branches in Inverness and Devon.
During 2010, Wellhouse Leisure approached Hyundai Motors with a view to building camper vans with the motor manufacturer. That progressed to Wellhouse designing and building vehicles on Hyundai chassis from scratch – with the vehicles making a debut at the NEC Motor Show in Birmingham a year ago and winning three major industry awards.
While the recession has led to a 15% fall in annual sales for the industry, Wellhouse has bucked the trend to lift sales year-on-year.
Mr Elliott had also performed a series of profile-raising activities for the firm which benefit the local community – such as running 12 marathons in seven months last year to raise £20,000 for a local charity and running an incredible 10 marathons in 10 days to raise £4,000 for Huddersfield Towns “Keep It up” campaign in aid of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
The Business of the Month Award is open to firms in Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. Contact Ian Greenwood at Eaton Smith on 01484 821389.
