Performance hotting up for Help-Link

HELP-Link, the Yorkshire central heating specialist and maintenance provider, is set for a record annual performance boosted by the problems at social housing services provider Connaught.

The Castleford-based business is set to break the £1m turnover mark this month; the first time the company will have achieved the monthly figure in its 13-year history.

Help-Link expects to achieve turnover of £9.2m over the financial year to the end of September, up from £8.6m last year. Its profits figure was not available.

The company has recently been awarded new long-term contracts for gas boiler service and general maintenance with Selby District Council and Richmondshire District Council. Both contracts are for three-and-a-half years.

To meet demand Help-Link has increased its workforce to 180 staff – the most the company has ever employed. It has also launched operations in the North West and West Midlands.

Help-Link’s managing director, Mel Butler, said: “It’s been a phenomenal year for us. Like most companies, we saw a drop in business for 2008/09 as the recession took hold but it’s good to see that confidence is being restored.”

Help-Link’s growth has been boosted by the provision of additional services to Harrogate Borough Council following the collapse of social housing specialist Connaught earlier this month.

Help-Link already supplies boiler installation and maintenance services to Harrogate Borough Council but when Connaught went into administration, Harrogate Borough Council called upon Help-Link to fill the gap in services and provide emergency call out repairs and maintenance work.

Help-Link responded to the first call within an hour of the contract being awarded on September 8 and has since visited more than 300 houses in the Harrogate district that would have previously been covered by Connaught.

Help-Link has also employed 10 former Connaught employees, including electricians and plumbers.