Research shows the electronics sector is becoming one of Bradford's biggest growth areas. Business Editor Paul Parker reports on one firm at the forefront of the industry.

BRADFORD'S FILTRONIC COMTEK is becoming a world leader in the fast-growing global electronics industry.

The firm is expanding throughout the world and, as a result, is planning to take on extra staff in Bradford.

Over the last three years the company, which has its headquarters in the imposing Waterfront building in Saltaire, has acquired electronics companies around the globe as part of its growth and re-organisation plan, pushing up its workforce to 2,700.

In August, Filtronic Plc announced a turnover of £94 million and City analysts say it will double that to £196 million by next August thanks to the acquistions.

Professor David Rhodes, himself a Yorkshireman born in Doncaster and living in the Aireborough area, has invested heavily in Bradford and is committed to the area. He is currently taking a long look at the group's businesses in the USA. His firm offers a variety of jobs which appeal to people in the district and he plans to continue recruiting from the Bradford area as more business comes in.

Gill Perkins, Filtronic's communications officer, said today: "We have grown a lot in the last three years and we will continue to grow. The group currently employs 750 people in Bradford, mainly carrying out the hand assembly of our products.

"We expect that to increase to 1,000 in the next year and more than that over the next few years. We have a very loyal workforce from the Bradford area and have never had problems recruiting .

"We find Bradford people are adaptable, have drive and ambition and are just the sort of people we are looking for," she added.

Filtronic Comtek, which is responsible for 90 per cent of the group's turnover, is now aiming to be a head of the field for the third generation of mobile phones.

The early analogue phones have largely been replaced by digital phones. The third wave involves mobile phones having the ability to send faxes and e-mail.

In January the firm's founder Professor Rhodes brought together the former private firms Filtronic Components and Filtronic Cable Communications under the Filtronic Plc roof with a total Bradford workforce of 750 and a total workforce of about 1,450.

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