A LONG-established Keighley firm has been subject to a management buyout.
Keighley Laboratories’ husband-and-wife team Matthew and Debbie Mellor now has outright ownership of the business, after completing its acquisition from shareholders.
The couple say they are “extremely positive” about the future of the company, which they have been involved with for more than three decades.
Keighley Laboratories – which was founded in 1920 – provides advanced metallurgy testing, consultancy and chemical analytical services to sectors including aerospace, marine, defence, nuclear, energy and rail.
Its customers span local, national and global markets.
Mr Mellor, the firm’s technical services director, says: “We believe that the future is extremely positive for the company, and we look forward to further developing the range of the services we offer.
“We have in place a growth strategy for the firm and several strategic partnerships, which will help progress the business and bring greater opportunities.
“We’ve recently gained Boeing D1-4426 status, which marks us as a quality supplier. It is a significant achievement in our strategic plan of maintaining and extending the scope of aerospace approvals.”
Mrs Mellor, the company’s managing director, has served on the Bradford Chamber of Commerce leadership group for the past nine years and recently joined the West Yorkshire Manufacturing Advisory Board, a taskforce initiative set up by the mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin.
Keighley Laboratories is also a long-time supporter of the Bradford Manufacturing Weeks initiative and a member of the Bradford and Airedale Manufacturing Alliance, of which Mrs Mellor is vice-chair.
She says: “Myself and Matthew are passionate about the company.
“We have both worked in the business for over 30 years, and I have served as managing director since 2007. This latest move was a natural progression facilitated by the existing shareholders exiting the business.
“We’re keen to drive the business forward, providing quality technical metallurgical services from our team of experts whilst also ensuring continuity of service throughout the management buyout.”
The acquisition was backed by a new NatWest facility, with support from its senior relationship manager, Sanjoy Kundu.
A team from law firm Gordons, led by corporate partner Duncan Firman and commercial property partner Nick Chamberlain, provided advice on the buyout, together with Gavin Lamb from the Bradford office of accountancy firm Azets.
Mr Firman said: “Keighley Laboratories Ltd is a long-standing client of Gordons.
“We are delighted to have been able to work with Debbie and the management team to secure completion of the transaction as part of the next phase of the company’s journey.”
