A METALWORKING firm which rose from the wreckage of a devastating collapse has been recognised with a top award.

Liversedge-based AS Fabrications (UK) Ltd was formed just 12 months ago by managers who had been left high and dry when their company went into liquidation in May last year.

Although Glentworth Architectural Metalwork was trading profitably, the firm had to close because of financial problems in its parent group.

The shock collapse left the firm’s directors and 40 staff out of work.

But instead of giving up, the management team took over the business just four weeks after being made redundant – and by obtaining financial support from HSBC and Yorkshire Forward were able to re-employ 18 of the axed workers.

Now the company has increased staffing levels to 39, introduced its own training schemes and is going from strength to strength with the backing of customers and suppliers.

Managing director Mick Fortune took the plaudits yesterday when he stepped up to receive the Business of the Year Award at a ceremony hosted by Huddersfield law firm Eaton Smith and its award partners Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and Business Link.

He said: “As managers of the previous company, we picked up the pieces and established the new business under a new structure.

“We found financial support and we have based the business on a few fundamental values which should apply to every business – strict financial control, monthly management accounting, looking after our team and providing high quality customer service.

“We have tried to stick to these principles and it is paying dividends.”

Mr Fortune said winning the award had been a team effort by all the staff, adding: “It shows that if you put the effort in you will get something out.”

Runners-up awards went to Brighouse-based roofing company Ploughcroft Ltd for its success in developing its Rooferman franchise and to Wakefield architectural practice The Harris Partnership for widening its portfolio of work to help it overcome the recession.

The annual award winners were chosen from 12 monthly award recipients in the competition run by Eaton Smith, the chamber and Business Link.

The presentations took place at a breakfast-time ceremony yesterday at the Cedar Court Hotel, Ainley Top.

The 250-strong audience was also addressed by Ray Wadsworth, of Slaithwaite engineering firm Hystat Systems Ltd, which won the 2009 award.

The company supplies components for the oil and gas industry as well as lifting bridges and lock gates.

Mr Wadsworth made a plea for firms to support workplace as the way to build a workforce for the future.

“It is often said that your workforce is your most valuable asset in business,” said Mr Wadsworth. “We employ two apprentices a year to ensure we have the skills we need.

“One of our apprentices who joined us in 2004 at the age of 17 has progressed through his NC, HNC and HND qualifications and now aged 23 has gained a degree. He has graduated and has six years industrial experience. That’s a real asset.”

Andrew Sugden, senior partner at Eaton Smith, praised the calibre of all the monthly winners, who are drawn from companies across Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield.

He said that in the wake of the general election and the “doom and gloom” of threatened spending cuts, Yorkshire firms were “trying to do what they do best without too much government interference”.

He added: “If the drive, commitment and flair of our monthly winners is anything to go by, we should not be too gloomy about the future.”