BURNLEY company Velocity Composites was recognised for its novel solutions to waste in the aerospace industry when it won the award for Innovation and Technology.

The six-year-old company uses innovative solutions to focus on reducing waste in the rapidly growing composite civil and military aerospace industry, specifically in the manufacture of carbon-fibre parts.

Its work was recognised at the Lancashire Telegraph awards when Steve Rumbelow, chief executive of Burnley Council, which sponsored the award, presented a trophy to the team.

The firm was founded in 2007 by three career composite engineers who spotted a niche in the market, and continues to grow at a rapid rate.

Speaking after the awards, director Gerry Johnson said: “We had an idea when we set the company up there was a potential there to grow but certainly over the last 12 months, since we moved into purpose-built facilities, it’s grown massively.

“Winning this award is recognition of a job well done I think, for me anyway.

“One of the reasons we moved to AMS Technology Park in Billington Road, was because of the future expansion possibilities, and we have concentrated regional on our business.”

Fellow director Jon Bridges said: “Winning this award is also a recognition of the support and assistance we’ve had from the local agencies, like Burnley Council, Barnfield Construction, and AMS Technology Park. It’s been a real regional assistance for us in getting over to Burnley and helping us grow.”

The company works with most of the north west’s aerospace giants, including Aircelle, BAE Systems, and Kaman Composites, as well as several international firms.

Several civilian and military aircraft, including the Airbus A330, and the Eurofighter Typhoon, all use parts made using Velocity’s kits.

In the past 12 months, the company has gone from 28 to 56 personnel and expects to employ more than 70 by the end of the year.

Mr Johnson added: “The next growth for us is national and international, and we plan to do that from the north west base that we have. “It’s a £4billion industry we are in, and there’s certainly scope for getting as big a slice of that as possible.”