Asbestos Analytical - Barningham

Website brings jobs & business

A new website is helping a Barnard Castle company clean up in the world of asbestos identification.

Earlier this year Asbestos Analytical Services became one of the few companies in the country to secure UKAS accreditation for its full range of services.

Now, thanks to grant support from Business Link, the website is building on that success, attracting interest nationwide and helping to create graduate employment opportunities.

"Gaining UKAS accreditation, which enables us to offer Asbestos Bulk Sample Analysis, Asbestos Surveying and Air monitoring, really kick started the business, however the website has been invaluable for publicising what we do," said Director Stephanie Shields.

"The website was essential but we wouldn’t have been able to do it so quickly without the support of the Teesdale Enterprise Agency and Business Link. It’s really allowed us to maximise the potential of the business and in just a couple of months we had 1800 hits on www.aaslimited.co.uk."

The business was set up in 2002 by Malcolm Riley and partner Stephanie Shields as an offshoot from their surveying business and now has 6 employees.

They recognised that the 'Duty to Manage' provisions of the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 2002 which came into force in May 2004, gave them an opportunity to offer a vital new specialist service.

Now, since accreditation, growth has been rapid, customers come from sectors including retail, industrial and pharmaceutical and four new jobs have been created with more planned according to Stephanie.

"We’ve taken on and trained a graduate who is part of an in-house training scheme as well as two experienced and qualified technical staff members and we’re hoping to take on another graduate shortly."

The AAS team now deals with all aspects of asbestos from managing remediation works to surveying, air monitoring and analysis of samples which is undertaken at their laboratory in Barningham.

Commenting on their success Teesdale Enterprise Agency Adviser, Charlotte Stow said:

"This type of business benefits hugely from having a quality presence on the web, not only in helping them position their offer and reinforce their identity, but also to help differentiate them from their competitors, vital in a competitive national market place when you are selling professional services rather than products."

Asbestos Analytical Services can be contacted on 01833 621483 and at www.aaslimited.co.uk.