Sales almost doubled for Hull caravan and lodge manufacturer Atlas Leisure Homes in a year when it significantly expanded its operations to meet staycation demand.
The company’s turnover soared from £37.9 million to £71.9 million, an increase of virtually 90 per cent on the previous record period, with operating profit increasing from £871,937 to £3.8 million. Atlas opened a new production line and machine shop as it added capacity, while a second management buy-out in five years also completed.
Since taking on the Sutton Fields site in late 2020, more than £1 million has been invested, with employee numbers now up from 279 to 430 year-on-year. Most have been added at the former McBride plant, while the office team has also been bolstered considerably at the Wiltshire Road head office.
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In the strategic report accompanying the results for the year to September 30, finance director Michael Durrant told of the confidence held in further progress. He said: “We have faced many challenges this year with supply chain issues, but we have also made many improvements within the business, the most significant being the successful opening of Production Line Four and our brand-new machine shop at our West Carr Lane Site. This now gives the business the additional output and flexibility to capitalise on our growth post pandemic.
“With increased output comes extra paperwork and responsibilities. To alleviate some of the administrative pressure we have also further invested into the business with 19 new office staff to strengthen the back-office capability of the business which allows us to better serve our customers. This includes new recruits in health and safety, human resources, buying team, finance, marketing, sales, aftersales and administration.
“We have maintained focus on our key relationships and new strategic customers which will ensure a healthy order book now but also in the future. The company fosters strong relationships with its customers, meeting with them regularly so to understand their needs. “We continue to have a strong order book with winter hire fleet orders from our largest customers, and have ongoing retail orders from our UK wide dealer network.”
Launched 14 years ago by Bruce Harry, Andrew Innes and Barry Pattison, a management buy-out saw operations director Colin Jeffrey and managing director Steven McGawn take control, alongside marketing director Philip Spark in 2019. The latter was bought out by the pair last June.
Looking ahead, Mr Durrant said: “The outlook for the coming year is not without challenges, specifically in terms of the supply chain being able to deliver raw materials to meet current demand. The company continues to build on its long-standing relationships with key suppliers. The purchasing team engage in regular meetings with suppliers to ensure consistent procurement of materials at the best possible price
“Locally, risks and threats to the business remain the availability of a suitably skilled workforce and to continue to aid this an unprecedented programme of training and development of all employees is ongoing in our pursuit of continuous improvement.
“Our ability to attract and retain quality staff has significantly benefited from this approach and continues to do so. A new apprenticeship programme leading to a Level Two Diploma in Manufacturing has also been adopted.
Mr Durrant added: “The above aspects when combined with the continued growth in the UK staycation market leads the directors to believe that the coming year will yield improvements in performance.”
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