Company boss and former Bradford business leader Balbir Panesar led by example by taking a 20 per cent pay cut to help his business survive the recession.

And his nearly 100-strong workforce at PEC Building and Shopfitting followed suit by agreeing to accept ten per cent less in their pay packets to safeguard their jobs in the depth of the downturn.

Now the company, based on the Euroway Estate, has a booming order book for the next six months and has taken on 35 temporary tradesmen to handle extra work across the UK.

The new contracts include work for health group Bupa and refurbishment of a ward, corridor and two operating theatres at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

Earlier this year PEC clinched contracts worth £1m to work on several Homebase stores. The firm is a major contractor to commercial customers, particularly in the retail sector, providing construction, renovation, decorating and fitting services to top-name clients.

Mr Panesar, former president of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, who founded PEC in 1977, said the outlook for the business was positive.

He said: “After taking steps to ensure that we got through the recession we’ve been in a better position to pick up work and now have a healthy workload with some good quality contracts. This has enabled us to take on 35 temporary tradesmen and as things stand I’m very positive.

“The recession forced us to tighten our belts, reduce costs and operate more efficiently and our workforce helped by accepting a ten per cent cut in wages in order to safeguard their jobs. I myself have taken a 20 per cent reduction as I believe in leading by example.”

Mr Panesar believes public sector staff facing cuts by the Government should also accept pay cuts rather than just the proposed freeze on salaries in order for more of them to keep their jobs.

He said: “In the private sector people have realised that in difficult times lower pay can retain jobs. The public sector should adopt this approach.”