Group that helps to cut costs ready to recruit more staff

The Orchard Group, which is based in Elland and currently employs 80 people, said it saw “a significant increase” in business from tourism, heritage and sporting venues during last year with new clients including the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Somerset County Cricket Club and Fife Ice Arena in Scotland.

The group, whose turnover is £5.5m, comprises Orchard Energy, Orchard Environmental and Orchard Networks. Group managing director Gareth Henderson said Orchard’s energy division had recently agreed deals with West Yorkshire Playhouse, Northern Ballet and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and its work with retailers had expanded in the past 12 months to include efficiency planning as well as purchasing.

Mr Henderson said Orchard had been working with North East furniture retailer Barker and Stonehouse throughout 2012 to protect its budgets from gas and electricity price fluctuations.

“We have also supported them with meter downgrades and planning for a new £4m store in Knaresborough,” he said.

Other retail clients last year included Cheque Centre, Costcutter and the Meadowhall and Ridings shopping centres. The group said its energy and environmental divisions have seen “strong growth” in the manufacturing sector.

Mr Henderson said Orchard Energy’s long-standing working relationship with stately homes such as Chatsworth, Harewood and Castle Howard had paved the way for a deal between the group’s networks division and the Duke of Devonshire Estates to provide managed IT services.

“Networks is our newest division and its performance in 2012 has exceeded all expectations,” said Mr Henderson.

“In 2013 we will be developing a comprehensive telecoms service as part of our IT support including landline, mobile, broadband and VoIP installation and technical support.”

Mr Henderson said waste management division Orchard Environmental has seen a 30 per cent increase in business leading to the creation of new jobs at head office in Elland and the rolling out of its services to the group’s regional offices in Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Bradford and Newcastle.

“Overall, we have expanded in terms of head count and geographical reach in all areas of the group’s operations and moved our head office from Brighouse to larger premises in Elland in the first quarter of the year to facilitate growth,” said Mr Henderson.

“Recruitment is now underway to expand our teams in Newcastle, Bristol and Elland and more new jobs will be created in all three businesses in 2013.”

Orchard Environmental’s national field sales team is expected to increase from five to 26 people over the next three years.