FURTHER growth is on the agenda at a Bradford commercial furniture manufacturer after it clinched a major deal to supply the public sector.

Knightsbridge Furniture has been selected as the preferred supplier for the Scottish NHS which will see it supply contract furniture to more than 200 hospitals across Scotland and the Isles.

Alan Towns, managing director, said the deal could mean an extra £1millon of business a year for the £10 million turnover company, which he and operations director Peter Denham acquired through a management buyout in March.

Following a competitive process, Knightsbridge has secured two tenders, one for hospital and healthcare furniture and one for the challenging environments sector. Knightsbridge will supply 205 Scottish hospitals, community hospitals and healthcare sites.

In addition to price and product quality, the Scottish NHS tender, which covers all 14 health boards across Scotland and the Isles, also focuses on customer support and service.

Alan Towns said: “It was a highly competitive selection process and we’re pleased to have been chosen as the preferred supplier to the Scottish NHS, which continues our working partnership which has lasted more than 60 years."

He said the company, which employs around 130 people at its 250,000 sq ft factory on Thornton Road, had achieved year-on-year growth of 40 per cent and had a strong order book.

Mr Towns said: "We have been making great progress since the management buyout and the Scottish NHS deal is an exciting development for Knightsbridge. Our plans are going very well and we continue to look at opening up new markets in the corporate sector and are seeing growing demand from own equipment manufacturers ."

The company has taken on five new apprentices, three administrative staff and six shop floor operatives .

It uses both traditional craftsmanship and advanced manufacturing technology and holds Preferred Supplier status with organisations including the NHS and HSE Ireland. It also makes ranges for US office furniture supplier Herman Miller which are sold to countries including South America and the Middle East and is looking to double direct exports from the current seven per cent of turnover.

Knightsbridge, which has been producing seating, tables and cabinets for the contract market for more than 75 years,will unveil a new look next month as the business re-brands.

The company was started by the late Dr Arnold Moore in Leeds Road. Dr Moore was well-known for founding Bradford's War on Cancer appeal.