600 Group sees the benefits of pulling out of the Far East and returning to Yorkshire

The Heckmondwike-based firm said confidence is higher than it has been for 20 years as it focuses manufacturing on West and South Yorkshire.

​​600’s chief executive Nigel Rogers said that only 25 per cent of the firm’s manufacturing was based in the UK 10 years ago , but it now produces nearly 60 per cent of its products in the UK and of this, two-thirds are manufactured in Yorkshire.

“We are seeing a lot of benefits in bringing manufacturing back to the UK, to West and South Yorkshire.

“The benefits of bringing manufacturing back are to do with flexibility. We can make design changes to products quickly and we can be much more responsive to customers.”

While the group has seen an impact from the strength of the pound, it has not been hit as hard as some manufacturers.

“I’m more confident than I have been in 20 years,” said Mr Rogers.

“It’s a recognition of the strength of our engineering skills and a desire to export more.”

600’s order intake increased 14 per cent to £42.5m in the year to March 29 and orders since then are ahead of last year. Profits rose from £500,000 to £2m.