Ripping yarns

James Gledhill (left) and spinning manager Neil Riley

A DELPH family firm is defying the credit crunch and making the region the textile king again.

R Gledhill Ltd is not just surviving but expanding into foreign markets to see profits soar.

While the industry has seen a massive decline, the company is exporting the region’s proud textile heritage around the world.

It specialises in producing high-quality woollen yarns for clothing and furniture and has added clients from Germany, Italy and beyond after taking part in the UK Trade and Industry’s Passport to Export scheme.

Company director James Gledhill said: “Passport to Export was very beneficial to us. It helped to motivate us to get a new international website and take part in an exhibition in Italy. Export is important for our future growth.

“The scheme helped us get more contacts; we picked up 25 at an exhibition in Milan and are working at developing them at present. We are hopeful of having a return from them down the line which will see a good increase in business.”

R Gledhill received two days of professional export training free of charge and funding that helped to develop its international website and assisted in covering the exhibition trip to Italy.

It has been operating from Pingle Mill, Pingle Lane for the past 70 years and employs 80 people. There is also a shop at the mill, called Country Classics and run by Pam Harrison, which sells products made from their yarns.

The company had already entered the export market but the initiative helped it to increase turnover by more than £20,000.

UKTI North West International Trade Advisor Malcolm Arnold, who worked closely with R Gledhill under the scheme, said: “I’m delighted we have been able to help the company to improve its export market.

“It’s a wonderful, traditional company and as far as I’m aware is the only one of its kind in an area that used to be brimming with textile firms.

“They have come through some difficult times for the industry in the past 70 years and now theirs is a real success story. There is real demand for their quality products.

“UKTI can offer a wide range of assistance to companies wanting to build trade in emerging markets, including advice on everything from market opportunities to product liability, IPR, managing agents and distributors and finance.

“It also delivers a comprehensive programme of overseas trade missions, business development visits and UK-based events such as Meet the Buyer. We would urge any other companies looking to develop their overseas trade strategy to get in touch and see how we can help.”

And Mr Gledhill offered this advice to Oldham companies thinking about trading overseas: “You have nothing to lose by trying. The UK markets are not particularly good at the moment and the current strength of the euro and dollar make it well worth looking at other areas. The Passport to Export scheme has encouraged us to do this.”