Stairlift manufacturer Acorn Stairlifts has moved its day-to-day banking arrangements to the Leeds office of Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets.

The deal will see the bank’s team, led by relationship manager Lian Miller, provide the business with a retail package including international facilities in various currencies, clearing facilities and loan guarantees.

Acorn Stairlifts is one of the world’s largest manufacturers and suppliers of stairlifts, selling direct to end users in the UK, the United States, Canada, Australia and Germany and to dealers around the world.

Founded in Bradford in 1992 by John Jakes, the business has grown from a one-man band buying and selling reconditioned stairlifts to a global operation based in Steeton employing 1,000 people, including 500 in West Yorkshire.

Ed Putnam, Acorn Group finance director, said, “The business has seen an exceptional growth over the last 17 years and is continuing to grow strongly both here and abroad despite the current economic climate. “As a result, it was becoming increasingly important to us that we had a bank that could provide the right funding and services to meet our growing global expansion together with a locally-based team that could build up strong relationships with our senior staff.”