With expansion plans in the pipeline one city firm is showing real signs of progress.

Last week the company, New Vision, celebrated its fifth anniversary.

The signs and graphics manufacturing business, which is based on Ventnor Street, began trading in February 1998 with only six staff.

It now employs 20, adding five last year alone.

New Vision began trading with a long-term plan to be one of the countries most respected and reliable sign designers and manufacturers.

According to the firm the sign trade is a fragmented industry with lots of small businesses, but only a few companies capable of offering the project management skills and manufacturing capacity to cope with larger projects.

Bosses at New Vision set out to create a company with the infrastructure to service the needs of multiple outlet retailers.

The firm has set its sights on bigger things this year and has invested £40,000 installing a new large format digital printer and laminator.

Tony Stead, the firm's business development director, said technology in sign making has changed dramatically over the past few years, especially in graphics.

The firm had invested the money to show its commitment to keeping pace with the change.

Stephen Duff, the firm's managing director added: "Many local businesses are forced to go beyond Bradford for large format printing which is frustrating.

"Bradford is suffering at the moment but we are here to stay and we believe in giving something back."

New Vision saw its turnover leap from £400,000 in its first year, to £1 million last year.

It hopes to take this up by ten per cent at least this year.

Its client list includes T-Mobile, Bradford Council, Grattan and Yorkshire Building Society.

The firm's expansion plans mean it also expects to increase its staff numbers this year.

Mr Duff said: "Planning is an important aspect of any business and getting help and advice from a range of specialists is crucial.

"The bank manager, accountants, marketing consultants and IT specialists all had an important part to play in the development of the company.

"Equally, investment in the latest equipment is important if the company is to meet its customer's needs."

But investment isn't just about new machinery. He added: "It is about investing in the skills and abilities of the workforce.

"New Vision operates a quality management system which complies with the very latest BS quality standard ISO 9001:2000 - not only for the manufacturing side of the business but also the design side.

"But the quality system was not much in evidence when, only days after been awarded our certificate, we installed a fascia sign on a store in Oldham for a client.

"Unfortunately the client's store was 50 metres away on the other side of the road!"

Garry Roberts the company's production director, said: "We did remove the offending sign and made a new sign for the correct site prior to the store opening and our client saw the funny side.

"The single most important reason that customers defect to the competition is an inability to correct mistakes or an indifference to complaints.

"Nobody's perfect and mistakes happen, all you can do is learn from them. We amended our procedures and it shouldn't happen again."

Next month the firm hopes to be given the Investors in People standard in recognition of its continued staff training.

Mr Duff said: "The addition of new skilled staff members has always been a difficulty, so the training of existing staff is a priority."

He recently talked to pupils at Laisterdyke High School who are studying for a business GCSE.

He said: "It was a very interesting experience, the pupils asked lots of questions about the business and we discussed the type of clients the company works for and the requirement to install signs all over the country."

He said the firm's base in the city gives it excellent access to the motorway network.

The company recently attended its first exhibition, the Retail Interiors Show at Earls Court in London.

Tony Stead said: "It was a big step but we feel companies in the north are sometimes ignored and you have to get off your backsides if you are to succeed at anything."

Joel Warden, one of the first people to be employed by New Vision, was even enlisted to model for promotional photographs.

Mr Stead joked: "One of the keys to a successful business is to have a flexible workforce!

"Joel was very impressive in his first attempt at modelling. The exhibition was a great success, we had a lot of positive feedback and the stand caused quite a stir."

Mr Stead added: "We are ideally placed in the market at the moment. The larger sign companies are suffering because the top companies are doing less re-brands due to the current economic climate.

"I know it's corny but it's true, the signs are good!"

Mr Duff added: "It's all doom and gloom at the moment, with rumours of recession, slumps in manufacturing, and impending war.

"But this is one company which is certainly up for the challenges ahead."