A West Yorkshire building and solar roofing company, which is enjoying booming demand, has ambitious plans for a fivefold growth over the next two years.

Ploughcroft Building Services Ltd has strengthened its top management team to achieve its target of growing turnover from £2m to £10m.

The award-winning Brighouse-based company is the only solar roofing contractor in the UK with a solar roof training centre providing NVQ qualifications for installers and a construction skills certification scheme.

Since the introduction of the government feed-in tariff scheme in April, which pays homeowners for installing solar panels, Ploughcroft has seen a surge in demand for its services.

Chris Hopkins, managing director and co-founder of Ploughcroft, said: “Solar panel sales and installations have literally been going through the roof over the past couple of months.

“Since the government announced it would give cash back to homeowners, businesses and community buildings that generate their own electricity, we have had a major surge in enquiries.

“Now is the right time to build the management team at Ploughcroft and take the company to the next level.

“The new management team bring decades of first class business experience to the table and together with our 20-strong workforce we are determined to become the quality roofing and solar contractor of choice, whilst still keeping our reputation for excellent customer service and properly trained installers.

“It’s important we continue to share our knowledge with the rest of the solar industry, so that as the low carbon building sector grows, consumers have confidence that they will be given a top notch service and the best product for their needs.”

Ploughcroft has appointed three new high-level recruits and promoted two employees to director level as part of its growth plans.

Mark Hilton has joined as technical director, Philip White as head of the Microgeneration Certification Scheme and Babak Daemi as head of marketing.

Chris Cash has been promoted to solar sales director and Stephen Feather to solar contracts director.

Over the next 12 months, Ploughcroft will continue to expand its solar installation service and solar training programme, as well as educating consumers about the financial return that solar energy can bring.

The firm is looking to win contracts from more blue chip energy suppliers and manufacturers on top of its links with the likes of NPower, Vaillant and Plumb Center.

Ploughcroft was launched in 1997 by Chris Hopkins and his father Bill Hopkins.

Following Bill’s retirement in 2004, Chris took the helm and focused on creating a roofing company that differed from the rest. The Ploughcroft training centre opened in 2006, followed two years later by its Eco Roof Centre in Brighouse where schools, colleges, councillors and environmentalists can see live demonstrations of solar panels in action.

Chris Hopkins is also chairman of the Yorkshire Independent Roof Training Group and a regional council member for ConstructionSkills.