Fyr Fyter hopes to hit £1m in sales

Oct 24 2007 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal

A FIRE safety specialist expects to boost annual sales by a third after winning an accreditation to help it land more heavyweight corporate clients.

Durham-based Fyr Fyter, which sells fire safety products and runs special training courses, is in talks with a number of large blue chip firms after gaining the industry’s Quality Assurance accreditation.

The business expects to see its annual revenue, which is currently at around £900,000, surpass the £1m mark on the back of the new accreditation.

The firm employs 14 people and its current list of clients includes energy supplier N-power, outdoor clothing firm Barbour alongside a number of North-East housebuilders.

Founding directors Brian Hogg and Paul Bainbridge expect this list to grow considerably, having won the certificate which they applied for following changes to fire safety regulations.

Mr Hogg said the firm had previously received a number of assurances from large corporations that they would sign up to Fyr Fyter if it had the BS 9001 level award.

He is currently in discussions with various large businesses now that his company adheres to their demands.

Mr Bainbridge said: “The certificate gives us more credibility with bigger businesses and will help us push into new markets. We will expand with more high profile companies.”

Fyr Fyter underwent a three-month period of rigorous examinations and was supported by Business Link to win the accreditation.

Business Link account manager Sarah Travis said: “We’re delighted to have helped the company with this very successful exercise. The accreditation will enable them to be more efficient and source more work, the proceeds of which will be of benefit to the whole community.”

Mr Hogg and Mr Bainbridge, who have a combined 45 years experience in the fire safety industry, formed Fyr Fyter in 1999.

The firm, which is based on Durham’s Renny’s Lane Industrial Estate, has experienced year-on-year growth since its inception.

In 2003, the company was nominated in the Durham and Wearside small business category at The Journal’s North-East Business Awards.