Pictured: Graham Harper from Yorkshire Bank in Nottingham with Atlas Composites managing director Shaun Moloney 

An East Midlands composites engineering firm has followed the map to success after earning a coveted aerospace accreditation and secured the financial backing to continue its expansion. 

Atlas Composites, based in Ilkeston, is one of only four composite engineering firms in the UK to achieve the AS9100 Rev C recognition standard for the aerospace, space and defence sectors, and is aiming to strengthen its position in the sectors further having become a new customer of Yorkshire Bank. 

The firm, which was formed in 1997, has increased its staff numbers by 10 per cent over the last six months. 

It now employs more than 60 staff at its 25,000 sq ft production facility on the Quarry Hill Industrial Estate and counts Airbus, BAE Systems and MBDA among its client roster. 

Managing director Shaun Moloney said Atlas is well placed to build on its strong position in the industry having decided to become a new member of Yorkshire Bank's Nottingham Financial Solutions Centre (FSC). 

"We design and manufacture a diverse range of carbon, kevlar and glass fibre composite components for a wide range of industries, including the aerospace, defence, motorsport, energy and communications sectors," he said. 

"AS9100 Rev C recognition is not easy to achieve and is a benchmark of high quality in our field and attaining this puts us in a strong position to become the preferred supplier of major players in a host of industries.

"Only a select group of companies in the UK have earned this recognition and of these only four, including ourselves, are composite engineering firms.

"We've enjoyed substantial growth over the last year or so, which has led to us adding to our team so we are really on a high having also won this accreditation. 

"Our clients demand continous improvement from their supply chain, and having Yorkshire Bank on board will give us the ability to plan for future expansion of the company and continue to lead the way when it comes to the design and manufacture of the next generation composite structures."

Carl Dickinson, managing partner at Yorkshire Bank's Nottingham FSC on Castle Meadow Road, said Atlas is well placed to achieve further growth and success. 

"Atlas has built a strong reputation for designing and manufacturing diverse products for a host of high-profile companies across a wide range of sectors," he said. 

"Achieving this quality mark is a real endorsement of the high standards the company sets and the bank is delighted to be supporting Shaun and his team."