Fabrications firm doubles in size after string of new orders

A BLACK Country steel fabrications firm has more than doubled in size in the space of 12 months after securing a string of new orders.

Willenhall-based AlphaDrive Engineering Services, which supplies and repairs the fabrication of bearings, industrial gearboxes, motors and power transmissions, has seen sales increase to £320,000 after landing contracts in the aggregates, food and beverage and paper making sectors.

Backed by support from In-Comm Training, the company has also developed its skills base by creating an in-house training and continuous development plan for all its employees. To sustain its position it has also taken on two new apprentices.

The management team at the firm is now targeting £1m turnover by 2018.

“We started the business just as the recession was coming to its peak, but knew deep down we could offer customers something different to what they were currently receiving,” said managing director Anthony Chisholm.

“Having spent most of our career involved in engineering services we recognised the need to improve customer service, the importance of adding value to what we do and flexibility in responding to urgent requirements.

“This helped us put the business plan together and at the heart of that plan was ‘people’. We wanted to adopt a big company development programme and embed it into our small business culture, something In-Comm has helped us achieve.”

AlphaDrive currently employs eight people at its Ashmore Lake Way premises, an increase of six new staff in the last year alone.

All of the workers have had access to courses focused on welding, managing health and safety, forklift trucks and first aid, while several are working towards NVQs in team leadership.

The apprentices are undertaking training both on-site and at In-Comm’s purpose-built workshop in Aldridge.

Gareth Jones, Operations Director at In-Comm, said: “We work with more than 200 manufacturers every year and there has definitely been a surge in the number of firms investing in training.

“AlphaDrive has been at the forefront of this and is a great example of a small company trying to be the best they can by unlocking the potential of its people.”