Construction recovery drives growth at manufacturer Arkoni

The Brighouse-based metalworking firm has seen high demand for fire-rated glazing systems for construction developments including schools, shopping centres, offices and leisure centres across the UK.

Turnover for the company in 2013/2014 increased 31.25 per cent from £4m to £5.25m.

It is forecasting a third consecutive 30 per cent growth for the current financial year, owing to existing orders into 2015.

Arkoni managing director Mark Prentice said the business has been working “at full capacity” for the last two years.

“In effect we are looking at a doubling of the business turnover in just three years,” he said.

The business has increased its workforce to 52 full-time staff and also boosted its workshop by 1,600 sq ft in the last 12 months.

The new workspace also incorporates fully-automated equipment, funded in part by an award from the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Business Growth Programme.

Mr Prentice, who founded Arkoni in 1991, said its 2013 and 2014 results were “way above” targets. “We continue to be an effective bellwether for commercial and public sector construction projects across the UK,” he said.

UK construction continued to show strong growth in August, with sharp rises in housing, commercial and civil engineering activity, according to the latest Markit/CIPS UK construction Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI).

Last month’s manufacturing PMI showed growth slowing to a 14-month low.