TWO local businesses are looking ahead with confidence as their operations expand.

Design and display company Leading Edge has doubled its team to more than 40 in the past year and saw turnover soar by 133 per cent to £3.5 million. The Gomersal-based business, launched seven years ago, is using a Regional Growth Fund loan to support £200,000 worth of investment in a state-of-the-art printer, fabrication equipment and five extra vehicles for its installation fleet.

Brighouse-based metalworking firm Arkoni is set for a third consecutive year of significant growth with a 23 per cent turnover boost to more than £6.5 million. Last year Arkoni, which manufactures metalwork features and fire-rated glazing systems for the construction industry, boosted turnover from £4 million to £5.25 million following a 30 per cent rise the year before.

Matthew Evans, founder and managing director of Leading Edge, which designs and produces display and graphics for the retail, hospitality and construction sectors as well as for vehicles and has turnover of £1.5million in 2014, has grown his staff from four in 2008 to 40.

Clients include McDonald’s, Card Factory, Soreen and tyre-service group ATS.

Matthew said: “We are now independently delivering on contracts across the whole of the UK, including Northern Ireland. Our new super-wide printer produces graphics up to 3.2 metres wide and has a dual print facility which means we can produce more high impact, high quality artwork, faster than ever before. “Retail contracts have to be delivered alongside other suppliers to strict deadlines which are created to minimise customer disruption. Our new facilities gives us greater flexibility and speed to meet these deadlines with our biggest ever team to fulfil on delivery and fitting.Investment in new equipment continues our policy of keeping our services in-house which ensures full autonomy on every project and is helping us win previously out of reach contracts on a national scale.”

Arkoni boss Mark Prentice said demand had returned to pre-2008 levels and the firm was making components – mainly fire-rated glazing systems – for major commercial projects, including new schools, shopping centres, office complexes, leisure centres and cathedrals He said: Given so many firms like ourselves have gone by the wayside over the past seven years, we find ourselves operating at full capacity to cope with demand.

“We’ve increased our workforce and introduced efficient and robust management systems. In effect, we are looking at a doubling of the business turnover in just three years. Long may it continue.”

Arkoni, which has 60 employees, recently expanded manufacturing with a new 1,600 sq ft workshop incorporating automated technology with partial funding from the Leeds City Region Business Growth Programme.