Yorkshire common sense is helping a local firm develop a big reputation with large-scale companies throughout the UK.

Turn off the main road through Cleckheaton and you come to a former mill where Associated Group is proving it can compete for quality with the best - but at a price firms find more acceptable.

Companies such as Camelot, Calortex, Vodafone and Tarmac have come to Associated in the last few years to have staff trained and develop new management skills which will give their businesses a boost.

The former Spen Valley textile magnate Samuel Law used to own the mill which is now the group's offices and studios.

The group, based on Law Street, started as a marketing consultancy in 1985 and has grown to become a complete communications company with 60 employees.

The firm, which is spreading into more of the mill property as it expands, is overlooked by the former residence of the Victorian wool baron - now a sports club.

The group has a number of divisions but is mainly a marketing and training organisation. It is split into Associated Training and Associated Marketing.

Associated Training was set up in 1989, recently finished a major refurbishment and expansion of its centre which includes improved training rooms and employing extra staff. The firm now has 20 trainers, administrators and sales staff.

The firm's commercial director Phil Dickson, left, said: "Being based in Yorkshire certainly seems to be an attraction, particularly for southern companies who find our costs highly competitive compared to London and other big city-based training companies.

"We have developed a programme of more than 20 key training modules all designed to enhance staff skills and improve performance of client companies."

For further information about Associated Group call 01274 860200.

Get together to build your team

Every boss knows that it is time to take action when a number of problems arise at the same time.

It could be that there is little enthusiasm for new projects and challenges in the firm or there is conflict and bickering over roles and responsibilities.

Maybe the company suffers from misunderstandings about what has to be done and when or why decisions are delayed - or not made at all.

These difficulties can result in falling production, low sales and a drop in customers which can be the ruin of what set out to be a good business.

Associated Training's outdoor and indoor training programmes offer a wide variety of solutions to these problems.

The firm employs former military personnel who are commercially experienced trainers to carry out its outdoor programme which involves people working together in the Great Outdoors to develop team-building skills, better leadership, communication and personal skills.

The company prides itself on having courses to suit all levels of employees from the receptionist to the financial director and the machine operator to the head buyer.

The firm also offers a wide variety of courses which are held at the Law Street centre. It brings people from firms throughout the UK to its premises to teach them selling skills, recruitment and selection, appraisal training, time management, improving communication, assertiveness and effective negotiation skills, among others.

Phil Dickson said: "The company believes in giving firms what they really want. This includes enthusiasm, sound judgement and positive attitude.

"We also want to help bring about a clear understanding of roles and responsibilities, effective communication and structured decision-making.

"These solutions help firms increase production and sales and attract new customers which help the business to grow."

It's all under one roof...

One of the things the big name firms find attractive about the Associated Group is that it offers a one-stop shop for their business.

One side of the coin is Associated Marketing. This side of the business includes a creative studio, sales promotion, advertising, publicity and public relations, direct mail and exhibition design and build.

There is also an award-winning photography studio which operates on an individual basis. It has its own unique customer base.

One client that makes the most of The Associated Group's full services is Teco Westinghouse. They manufacture drives and motors and are based in Manchester. They not only train their staff at Associated Training, but use Associated Marketing for their exhibition stands, literature, PR and marketing strategy.

Staff are currently working on a project for Teco Westinghouse involving an exhibition stand in the shape of an aeroplane, to be staffed by air hostesses from Virgin Airlines.

Other clients include Graham Group, Spear & Jackson, Readmans, Skopos and the Fanfare Stationery and Toy Group.

Phil Dickson, commercial director, said: "I like to think of us as a Marketing Factory. We have the whole 'production line' based here in Cleckheaton. This means that costs are kept low and high quality jobs are turned around quickly.

"We have a very down to earth feel. Our clients find it easy to talk to us because we don't use jargon. We like to get on with the work instead of shouting about it," he added.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.