Pictured above: Malcolm Hall , MD of Hall-Fast

An award winning Nottinghamshire industrial supplies firm is on track for further expansion after winning an order worth over £250,000 with a Chinese firm, with help from UK Trade & Investment (UKTI).

Hall-Fast Industrial Supplies, which employs eight people at its Newark HQ, now expect to be raking in over £3million a year in orders within the next three years; a big step up from the £5,000 that the business was started up with by MD Malcolm Hall in August 2006.

The £268k order was for precision engineered parts for use within the transportation sector. The new order will boost their exports up to 35% of their business.

China is now the second largest economy in the world. Enormous investment is being made throughout the country creating big commercial opportunities for British companies of all sizes that want to expand their businesses and operate on a global platform.

Malcolm Hall, MD, who set up the business with the cash from selling his BMW, said:

"This order is a massive boost to the company and demonstrates the high value that China places on UK manufactured goods. With this order in the bag we have already invested in the building of new offices and have purchased new equipment, worth £35,000.

"The order will also enable us to pull forward our plans to expand our sales in new export regions, such as the EU, South America and Asia, so we'll be looking to employ up to three new people over the next year.

"Before January 2009 we were wholly reliant on the UK automotive industry but with a severe decline in the UK we knew to survive we had to diversify: both our products and our target markets. 

"With help from Bob O'Meara, an International Trade Adviser for UKTI, we began to explore exporting. We expanded our product range to 48,000 products and spent a lot of time perfecting our website to make it easy for overseas companies to see our products and place orders. We now export to 65 different countries; some one off orders and increasingly, repeat business."

Bob O'Meara, International Trade Adviser for UKTI said:

"Malcolm has tapped into a fantastic market. China is booming right now and has opportunities in many sectors. 

"This will help Hall-Fast go from strength to strength. Malcolm now operates in over 65 countries using his website and new media to drive his business.

"He has again won The Business of the Year award, this from a company that at the start of the downturn three years ago lost three of it's top five clients after they went bust.

"Malcolm has taken advantage of all UKTI help available, including Passport to Export (P2E) and the Overseas Marketing Introductory Service (OMIS).

"He operates with a small team and he has no borrowings. Large orders from China, USA, the Middle East, and Honduras, amongst others, are testament to his drive and enthusiasm.

"Any company in the East Midlands could be exporting. For more information about how UKTI can help your business to expand globally call 0845 052 4001."

Hall-Fast Industrial Supplies were recognised as one of only two East Midlands companies in the UK Top 60 Start ups in 2009, were runners up in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Chamber's Business of the year last year, along with many other awards, and this year won the Mansfield Business of the Year award, and have been shortlisted in the Nottingham Evening Post Small Business of the Year.