Expanding OHS targets £10m turnover

The Bradford-based firm, which has built expertise in areas like

asbestos management and prevention against the bacteria responsible for the deadly Legionnaire's disease, has begun trading from

Leeds' Wellington Place and plans to move its headquarters there, although the Bradford office will remain its operations, laboratory and training hub home.

OHS works in sectors including education, social housing, construction and nuclear. John Horsfall, managing director, said he was confident they could continue growing despite the deep cuts in the public sector.

"We have been prudent Yorkshiremen and managed our business in a reasonable fashion so we can be competitive. With some of the national competition big is not always beautiful."

Mr Horsfall said OHS' longevity in the marketplace and absence of bank debt left it in a strong position.

Its clients include Leeds-based Asda, for whom it provides support health and safety services stores across the UK, as well as Nestle, Land Securities, Rank, Cadbury, Sainsbury's, North Somerset Council and The Co-operative Group, relating to 4,500 properties.

It has also worked for BP at Mersin in Turkey, where it helped with decommissioning an oil rig.

OHS became Leeds United's secondary shirt sponsors two years ago. Yesterday the firm, which has 85 staff, held an open day in Leeds, giving talks on Legionella protection, Health and Safety Executive regulations, sustainability and energy management and the possible impact of Lord Young's review on the health and safety industry.

The sole shareholder in OHS is Martin Penny, who left his position as group managing director of Yorkshire-based Jemella Group, the company behind the Ghd hair product brand, two years ago.

Mr Horsfall declined to comment on Mr Penny's involvement in Ghd but said he always attended board meetings of OHS.

Earlier this year OHS bought Fieldside Health and Safety Management for an undisclosed seven-figure sum and opened an office in the City of London.