STEETON-based Acorn Stairlifts says it is continuing to enjoy record-breaking worldwide sales – and it doesn’t expect Brexit to have a significant impact on the business.

Its latest annual report and financial statement, for the year ended September 30, 2018, shows the company made £224.4 million – up by six per cent, from £211.7 million, the previous year.

Over the same period, operating profit grew from just under £22m to a new high of £22.2m.

The report also shows that export sales continue to account for nearly 71 per cent of the firm’s global income.

Acorn exports to around 80 countries worldwide and has wholly-owned subsidiaries in Germany, Italy, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and North America.

The company – founded as a one-man operation in Bradford in 1992 – now employs 1,536 people worldwide, up by 51 on the previous year. More than 500 employees are based at its head office and factory on the Millennium Business Park in Steeton.

The company says it has taken the “prudent” step of increasing stock levels in Europe to mitigate against any short-term disruption to the supply chain which might arise from Brexit.

But it adds that despite having a well-developed sales network in western Europe, 85 per cent of its total revenue is derived within the UK or from other non-EU countries.

Acorn’s group finance director, Joanne Richardson, said: “This is another encouraging set of annual figures, which reflect our commitment to building sustainable growth in both our domestic and export markets.

“Acorn continues to experience record-breaking worldwide sales, supported by our rising company headcount.”