The boss of a historic Bradford wool firm has teamed up with a public- private sector business support initiative to keep the business on top of the world.

Jo Dawson, chief executive of H Dawson Wool, which is one of the world’s leading wool suppliers, has connected with Rising Stars, which is delivered by Bradford Council and Bradford Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Dawson, who is the fourth generation to run the family business, became involved with the scheme through his links with the chamber.

He believes that joining forces with a Rising Stars adviser can help the firm – which handles more than £100 million worth of wool each year and has a UK turnover of £30 million – explore fresh ideas and avenues.

Jo said: “I’m involved with Bradford Chamber and have had some great discussions with chief executive Sandy Needham who recognises what we’re trying to do as a business and sees the potential for growth.

“H Dawson Wool is a traditional but dynamic business, always looking for new opportunities and to embrace innovation and creativity. We had a meeting with Rising Stars adviser Peter Briggs who proposed some very specific activities which we believe will eventually add value to the business.

“We’ve been operating for 125 years and we strongly believe in ensuring that the company continually evolves by embracing new opportunities.”

H Dawson Wool has offices in China, India, Italy, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and South Africa as well as its Bradford headquarters and employs more than 100 people worldwide.

It recently launched The Wool Room, a new retail business with stores in Harrogate, Stamford in Lincolnshire and Morpeth in Northumberland and an online store selling environmentally-friendly woollen bedding and interior furnishings and accessories.

Mr Dawson said linking up with Rising Stars had been helpful in providing an outside view of the business to offer a fresh perspective and suggest ways of making improvements and boosting growth for the firm, which deals with about five per cent of the world’s wool supply.

“We are very focused on finding new opportunities which reflect and promote our core values of integrity, honesty and delivering and doing exactly what we say we’re going to do, with consistency and reliability,” he said.

Rising Stars business services manager Carolyn Coleman said: “H Dawson Wool proves how even long established and successful companies will benefit from a fresh look at things.”

For further information about Rising Stars and the Council’s enterprise programme visit rising-stars.biz.