Firm sitting pretty in golden year

IN the chair . . . John Matterson in one of the specialist NHS portering chairs now made in Oldham, flanked by Chris Farrand (left) and Richard Holt

AN Oldham engineering company has celebrated 50 years in business by acquiring Rochdale firm Bradfern Ltd, and taking on five staff.

The Griffiths and Johnson Group of Companies is also planning a move to double the size of its satellite premises on the Mount Pleasant Industrial Estate.

Founded in 1959 by Harvey Griffiths from Delph and Alan Johnson from Chadderton, the company has its headquarters at the Collett Street Works off Ripponden Road.

Current Bradfern owners John and Moyra Matterson, from Rochdale, acquired the family business, originally toolmakers but now a specialist presswork and fabrication shop on three sites, in 1991.

Since acquiring Bradfern, the Oldham group has transferred the business to Oldham and taken on five staff, with the possibility of sixth in the near future, plus adding two former Bradfern directors to the payroll as consultants.

Manufacturers of portering chairs and commodes for the healthcare industry, including the NHS, Bradfern sometimes used Griffiths and Johnson as a supplier.

Managing director Mr Matterson told me: “This is a good fit for our business. I expect we will add around £250,000 to £300,000 to our turnover in our first year.

“In addition to adding new business, we have created work for our existing workforce by bringing in-house some of the contracts Bradfern previously sourced from other companies.”

This aspect has been particularly pleasing for Mr Matterson and his fellow directors, Richard Holt, (46), from Delph, and Chris Farrand, (38), from Watersheddings. They have responsibility for production at the Ripponden Road and Mount Pleasant sites respectively.

They have been with the business for 30 years and 35 years respectively.

Since December last year, the full-time staff of 20 has been on a four-day week as a result of a downturn in the manufacturing and engineering economy. “They are brilliant staff and we didn’t want to make anyone redundant. Following this investment, we have been able to bring more work into the business and we are now seeing a general upturn in inquiries and jobs,” added Mr Matterson.

Through orders inherited from Bradfern Ltd, the company is now exporting to Northern Ireland and Gibraltar as well as planning for a September move into new premises of around 8,000 sq ft.

There are tentative plans for a celebration of 50 years in business . . . but first Mr Matterson and his colleagues must ensure that Griffiths and Johnson can look forward with confidence to another 50 years.