Ollerton-based A1 Flue Systems (
www.a1flues.co.uk) has been crowned Manufacturer of the Year at the
East Midlands Chamber Business Awards — for the second year in a row.
The company, which employs more than 145 people, was singled out for praise for its strong export growth and its high levels of investment.
The directors of the family-run business — a UK market leader in the design, manufacture, installation and maintenance of commercial and industrial chimney, flue and exhaust systems — were on hand to collect the award.
Over the last 12 months, A1 has re-invested £250,000 of its profits to improve its manufacturing processes, including the purchase of a £100,000 plasma cutter. This has resulted in a 30% increase in productivity and has led directly to the creation of eight new jobs.
At the start of the year, the company reported a £1 million ‘Brexit boost’ after seeing a jump in turnover for the second half of 2016. It was able to secure a raft of contracts because, as a British manufacturer, its costs remained stable, while all its UK competitors — who import their flues from Europe — were hit by 20% price rises as the value of the pound fell.
It has also seen its exports grow to account for nearly 10% of its turnover, shipping systems to Dubai and even the Falkland Islands.