Tenfold increase in profits for Briggs Equipment

Despite difficult trading conditions and continued economic uncertainty, Briggs Equipment has seen profits rise from £300,000 in 2010 to £3 million in 2011. At the same time, turnover has increased by 17 per cent.

Announcing the figures, CEO Richard Close said that the company was bucking a trend in the materials handling industry.

"Manufacturing and industry in the UK has been through a number of years’ doom and gloom and 2011 was no different," he said.

"With news on a daily basis about the decline in UK manufacturing, we’ve had to work smarter, taking a more flexible approach in order to ensure the customers’ needs are always satisfied."

Richard, who took over the running of the materials handling equipment supplier in 2005 when it was a loss making organisation, is confident of a prosperous 2012, with business forecasts for the first quarter of the year looking even more promising.

Key to Briggs’ ongoing success will be the strengthening of its partnership with Yale Europe Materials Handling and the implementation of a number of new initiatives. This includes the launch of the Briggs Academy – a training programme designed to help staff reach their full potential in their careers, which is due to be introduced later in the year.

"I strongly believe that the academy initiative is something that is essential for the business to adapt to future needs of our customers," Richard added.