A HAWORTH engineering company has recruited new apprentices for the first time since a blaze ravaged its former base.

Airedale Springs has taken on the two young workers – and invested in new state-of-the-art machinery – with cash help from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

The £20,000 grant was awarded from the LEP's Government-supported business growth programme.

Airedale Springs was forced to find a new home after a fierce fire destroyed its old premises in 2010.

It moved into a new purpose-built factory nearby, in Bridgehouse Lane, two-and-a-half years ago.

Since then it has invested £2 million in latest spring and wire-forming machinery to help secure new contracts.

And the 32-employee firm has spent more than £105,000 expanding its product range.

Airedale Springs chairman Tim Parkinson said the latest investment, from LEP, would support the company in achieving its growth targets.

"In addition to the recruitment of apprentices the grant has been vital in allowing us to purchase a large computer-controlled spring coiling machine," he said.

"The machine is capable of producing springs with a wire diameter of up to 10mm – previously springs of this size were made by hand, which required multiple operations to be completed. Now overall production times have been reduced by more than 50 per cent, which is making a significant and positive difference to our business."

LEP chairman, Roger Marsh, said Airedale Springs was "using the positives of a potential disaster" to refocus and grow the business.

He added: "It is particularly pleasing that the company is investing in apprenticeships, giving talented young people a career in a skilled field, and we are delighted to have assisted with this."

Bradford Council leader, Councillor David Green, also paid tribute to the investment.

"One of the council's major priorities is boosting the skills of the local workforce so it is good to see this Haworth firm benefit from the business growth programme and take on some new apprentices," he said.

"Our initiatives, along with Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, are really making a difference and continue to result in the further regeneration of our city."

It has been a hugely successful year for Airedale Springs and several special events are lined up for 2015, when the firm celebrates its 70th anniversary.

The company was runner-up in the inaugural Regional Manufacturing Excellence Awards and then received three accolades in the Keighley Business Awards, including the coveted Business of the Year title.

It also welcomed two more employees into its 25-year club, and three extra jobs were created on the production team.

LEP is staging an event next month to outline what finance is available to support businesses with growth plans. Visit http://bit.ly/1tuiKnD for further details.