CHANGING its business model enabled a West Yorkshire NHS supplier to increase turnover by 32 per cent in 2014 and recruit 11 new staff.

Medical equipment and services provider, Essential Healthcare Solutions, grew turnover from £1.6m to £2.2m.

The Birstall-based company has also launched a new holding company, Essential Group of Companies.

Essential Healthcare Solutions, founded in 1999, which also provides equipment to care homes, will become part of the new group. The company has driven growth by changing its business model over the last 12 months, including streamlining its product range and offering a more consultative approach to its customers.

The company aims to double its turnover in the next 12 months through working closely with new companies within Essential Group of Companies.

Thomas Owens, Essential Healthcare Solutions managing director, said: “2014 was an important year for us as we secured significant investment from the Leeds City Region Business Growth Programme and support from Kirklees Council, employed 11 new recruits and moved into our new state-of-the-art premises which will have its own training facility onsite. All this has set the foundation to help us achieve our ambitious growth plans for the next five years.

“Essential Group of Companies is the next step in this plan. In addition to Essential Healthcare Solutions, the group will support the care industry no matter what the issue, with the sole aim of developing the perfect care environment.”

Following the restructure, Essential’s businesses aim to provide a better care UK-wide service, including training and recruitment to care homes as well as supplying products.

The group operates from its new base at the former Wilkinson’s Potato Farm, which will include an 18,500 sq ft state of the art warehouse, offices and live simulation training facility when completed.

The training centre has crated eight new jobs and will provide hands on guidance to healthcare professionals on how to use Essential equipment.

Mr Owens added: “We are incredibly grateful to Kirklees Council and especially to Ramesh Bains, senior business development officer, who has helped us in progressing our re-location and expansion.

“Before Ramesh contacted us, we were unaware of the business support network which is available and so the advice and guidance provided have been invaluable.I would definitely encourage other businesses to look into the support and funding available in the region.”

“Since we started the business, our growth has been organic but with this help, our new premises are the first step in our ambitious growth strategy which will see us expand and develop the business in the next five years. We are extremely excited about what lies ahead.”