Keighley engineering firm springs forward with grant support

The LEP has enabled family engineering business Airedale Springs to recruit new apprentices for the first time since a fire devastated the company’s former headquarters. The Haworth-based business has been awarded a £20,000 grant to purchase state-of-the-art machinery and employ two new apprentices from the local area. 

Bouncing back from disaster 

Airedale Springs, a leading spring and wire form manufacturer with 32 staff, has bounced back following a blaze that destroyed its former base in a Victorian mill in Haworth in 2010. Since moving into a new purpose built factory nearby in May 2012 Airedale Springs has invested £2m in the latest spring and wire forming machines to enable the company to win new contracts. 

Grant enables product development 

Tim Parkinson, chairman of Airedale Springs and the third generation to run the business, said the latest investment would help the company to achieve its growth targets. 

He said: “The LEP grant has been vital in allowing Airedale Springs to purchase a large computer controlled spring coiling machine, capable of producing springs with a wire diameter of up to 10mm. 

“Previously springs of this size were made by hand which involved multiple operations to be completed. The new machine has reduced overall production times by more than 50 per cent which is making a significant and positive difference to our business.” 

Investing in skills for the future 

Roger Marsh, Chair of the LEP said: “It is particularly pleasing that Airedale Springs is investing in apprenticeships that are giving talented young people a career in a skilled field and we are delighted to have also assisted with this through our own Apprenticeship Programme.” 

Mr Parkinson added: “The addition of our new apprentices has helped bolster our highly skilled staff and is a further commitment to the future of the business.”