A STEETON-based manufacturer has become the first in its field to join a campaign which recognises UK producers.

Acorn Stairlifts is the first in the sector to be accepted into the Made in Britain campaign, designed to enable consumers at home and abroad to identify British-made products.

The membership follows another industry first for the multi-award-winning business which has received Trustmark accreditation for installation and customer care.

The Government-endorsed accreditation involved ongoing assessments and inspections of work.

Other accolades for the firm include three regional honours at the Engineering Employers Federation Future Manufacturing Awards and recognition at the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce Raising the Bar Awards.

And it has received an ease-of-use commendation from the Arthritis Foundation.

Dave Belmont, Acorn’s company secretary, said: “Our manufacturing operation is such that we now export to 80 countries and every nine minutes, an Acorn stairlift is installed somewhere in the world.

“Acorn prides itself on its manufacturing efficiencies and expertise and we are delighted to be recognised by and accepted as a member of Made in Britain, an organisation which underpins our own values of supporting and developing our home-grown manufacturing industry.”

John Pearce, Made in Britain chief executive, said: “We are delighted to have Acorn Stairlifts as a member of the Made in Britain campaign.

“Acorn is an exceptional success story and, like so many members of the campaign, an exemplary employer, exporter and model of responsible, principled business. We are looking forward to working closely with the marketing and sales teams at Acorn to help them raise awareness of their innovative stairlifts by applying the award-winning Made in Britain mark to their products, packaging and online.”

Acorn Stairlifts employs more than 1,400 staff worldwide and is celebrating 20 years in business with its core manufacturing centre at the Millennium Business Park in Steeton.

Its products include the innovative FastTrack system, which enables quick installation of a stairlift on a non-standard curved staircase.

The firm is also renowned for its charity support and is a major backer of Oxenhope Sue Ryder hospice Manorlands.

It recently presented the hospice with a cheque for £17,845, proceeds of a series of events last year.