Richard Close

Despite difficult trading conditions, Briggs Equipment says its annual profit grew from GBP300,000 (USD470,740) in 2010 to GBP3 million (USD4.7 million) in 2011. Turnover for the period increased by 17%.

CEO Richard Close says the company is bucking a trend in the industry. "Manufacturing and industry in the UK has been through a number of years' doom and gloom and 2011 was no different.

"With news on a daily basis about the decline in UK manufacturing, we've had to work smarter, taking a more flexible approach to ensure customers' needs are always satisfied."

Close, who took over as CEO in 2005 when Briggs was losing money, is confident of a prosperous 2012, with business forecasts for the first quarter of 2012 looking promising.

Key to its success, Briggs says, will be the strengthening of its partnership with Yale Europe Materials Handling, and the implementation of new initiatives, including the launch of the Briggs Academy.

"I strongly believe that the academy initiative is something that is essential for the business to adapt to the future needs of our customers," Close says.

The academy offers a training programme designed to help staff reach their full potential in their careers. It will be introduced later this year.