Jobs on offer as firm moves into new base

A COMPANY supplying air compressors has opened new premises in Brighouse – and announced plans to create more jobs.

Pennine Pneumatic Services (PPS), which has moved from Halifax to premises at Rastrick Common, said it was recruiting to expand is 55-strong workforce – with about 10 vacancies already available for sales engineers and stores operatives.

Moving to the site has been a homecoming of sorts for PPS director and founder Gary Whitaker, who used to work in the same building for air compressor firm Automated Industrial Services Ltd, which he left in 1982.

He said: “I left this building as a 21-year-old lad and never thought I’d be back here again.”

Commenting on the work to transform the premsies, he said: “I had a vision that the new building should look like a BMW showroom and I think we’ve done that.

“I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved here with the help of our staff and our partners.”

At the official opening, a plaque was unveiled by Alexander Pavlov, UK and Ireland general manager Ian Harrison (second left) and Gary Whitaker (second right), of Pennine Pneumatic Services, with Brian Blacker (left) and Eorl Crabtree, of Huddersfield Giants at the official opening of the PPS premsies at Rastrick Common, Brighouse for Atlas Copco Compressor Technique.

PPS is the main distributor for Atlas Copco in the region and has repeatedly won its distributor of the year award.

The event was attended by Eorl Crabtree and Brian Blacker, of Huddersfield Giants; Ada Tangara and Mark Moore, of Halifax RLFC; and Billy Heath, Matty Brown, Jake Hibbs and Ben Bottomley, of Halifax Town FC.

All three clubs are sponsored by PPS.

More than 50 suppliers, contractors and associates partners also attended along with staff from PPS and Sheffield-based sister company Simm Engineering, representatives of Calderdale Council, Handelsbanken and Made In Yorkshire,

Ian Harrison, director of PPS, said, “We couldn’t have done all of this without the staff.

“We always work together as a team here and this new building couldn’t have happened without you all.

“We look forward to finding new team members as we grow the company.”

The new premises include a dedicated trade counter, smart new staff offices and open-plan areas as well as an improved layout for the stores and service department.