Ernest Cockburn has proved that redundancy does not have to mean you're down and out.

For over the last six years he has seen his business grow and broaden its base.

Mr Cockburn started Valley Medical Supplies in 1993 after he lost his job with a private medical supplies company.

The firm was set up after Mr Cockburn went on a four-week course with the Prince's Trust and with assistance from Business Link Bradford & District.

The initial idea was to market products to general practitioners. But shortly after setting up, he was approached by a contact who asked him to distribute other medical products to nursing homes across the North of England. A few months later a former NHS colleague rang him to suggest making stainless steel trays and baskets for holding sterile equipment in hospital operating theatres.

He sub-contracted the production of baskets to firms in Keighley and Skipton.

Mr Cockburn's firm, which started in Keighley then moved to his home in Skipton, still acts as sales agents for the NHS baskets, but he has broadened the base of the business.

His clients are now nationwide and include Clinipak, of High Wycombe who work in the medical disposable industry, Guardline, of Suffolk, First Technicare in London and Keighley workware company Work In Style who specialise in nurses uniform contracts.

.He has also changed the name of the firm to Valley Systems and has employed Julie Carter to drive forward a labelling business.

He said: "In the last twelve months we have dramatically increased both our customer base and overall sales in the labelling business.

"We are distributors for the Brother P-Touch range and currently have more than 65 NHS trusts for this product.

"Also, within a few months we have developed a bespoke computer program facility. Our associate company Valley Trak writes stock control and surgical instrument tracking programs."

The firm has moved to new offices in Silsden and is building up a range of state-of-the-art equipment which will help give the firm an even bigger boost.

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