STAFF at family run firm Astley Hire are flying high after receiving an award for their soaring business success, from Olympic ski jumper Eddie the Eagle Edwards. Astley Hire have achieved a staggering 300% increase in turnover in their cleaning division in the last two years, following a £200,000 investment in equipment.

The firm’s growth was recognised when Astley Hire was presented with an award by Michael

Nilfisk Area Sales Manager Bob Orrock, Astlrey Hire Managing Director Stephen Dorricott, Eddie The Eagle Edwards, Stewart Dennett, Nilfisk MD for UK&IE 

Edwards, aka Eddie the Eagle Edwards, at a glittering ceremony to celebrate success in the industry, organised by cleaning equipment supplier Nilfisk. Astley Hire which is based in Leigh, Greater Manchester, came top for growth out of 100 suppliers of Nilfisk products in their region, with a huge 173% increase in sales of cleaning equipment, from 2015 to 2016. There was an average 4% growth in sales throughout the dealers in the UK for the period, said Nilfisk.

Astley Hire’s Managing Director Stephen Dorricott said the firm’s continued growth into 2017 was testament to the hard work of Astley Hire’s 25 staff based at Lloyds Court on Jury Street in Leigh. Astley Hire has six divisions, hiring and servicing industrial access, cleaning, cooling and heating equipment, scaffolding and tools to trade and industry customers across the North West including household names Heinz, McVities and Patak’s.

“It was wonderful to meet Eddie,” said Stephen. “He’s always been one of my heroes. He’s achieved so much and always been so determined, it was an inspiration to hear him speak. It was a very proud moment to receive the Nilfisk prize for best for growth in central region. We were absolutely delighted. We've had a great few years in terms of growth here at Astley Hire especially in our cleaning division and it’s wonderful to see that growth recognised among our peers in the industry. The result is testament to the hard work of our staff, in particular to our team in the cleaning division.”

Astley Hire were awarded the prize for most growth in 2016 in the central region, at the annual Nilfisk awards held at the Armathwaite Hall in Keswick. Following the prize giving, guests were entertained by Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards, who talked about his legendary rise to fame and struggles he face in representing Great Britain in the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. 

Nilfisk is a supplier of professional cleaning equipment in industrial, commercial and consumer markets. The company is based in Denmark and has sales entities in 45 countries and dealers in more than 70 countries.

Gerald Morgan, Sales Manager at Nilfisk said: “It was a pleasure to host Stephen Doricott of Astley Hire at the Nilfisk Dealer Conference and present him with the award for most growth in the Central Region for 2016. Astley Hire have had a very successful year offering Nilfisk products for their cleaning Hire Division. It is a segment of the market they recognised could have potential and they have grown by double digits in 2016. Their “can do” attitude, excellent service and quick response times, has been the cornerstone of their success.  We look forward to more success and even more growth in 2017.”