A globetrotting mechanical engineer who returned home to Blackwood to take over the family business has received a further endorsement of his enterprise.

Vince Edwards has been awarded a £50,000 Assembly assistance grant, the latest in a sting of successes for him and his team since he took over the reins at Autocraft Engineering Ltd (AEL) 12 months ago.

Already, an aggressive drive to chase new business has won three new major accounts, created as many new jobs and seen a boost in turnover of more than 50 per cent.

Now plans are in place, to develop Autocraft's manufacturing facility on St David's Industrial Estate even further with an increase in floor space which will improve security and storage on site, as well as provide room for an better administration function.

Vince puts the successes down to a new culture at Autocraft with the help of a flexible workforce and the aid of a modern management approach.

A number of initiatives have been developed to provide the catalyst for change - shifts have replaced standard working hours, IT has been introduced and an aggressive sales drive implemented.

With customers including Railtrack, Honda, Hitachi and JCB on the books, the future looks good.

"Swapping an international career spanning Europe and Asia for my own business back home, was a huge risk," he said. "I felt it would take two years before we would see the light at what seemed to be a very long tunnel.

"I'm delighted to say that one year in, we have exceeded our wildest expectations which is great."

Anthony Bolter from the Economic Development Unit at Caerphilly council, who offered him support and advice in the early days, said: "In a short space of time, Autocraft has changed beyond recognition from a steady lifestyle business into a forward-thinking, modern and customer-conscious company."

David Garner, from Venture Wales, who has also helped the firm in its new direction said the Assembly grant scheme had given AEL a chance to fulfil its potential.A globetrotting mechanical engineer who returned home to Blackwood to take over the family business has received a further endorsement of his enterprise.

Vince Edwards has been awarded a £50,000 Assembly assistance grant, the latest in a sting of successes for him and his team since he took over the reins at Autocraft Engineering Ltd (AEL) 12 months ago.

Already, an aggressive drive to chase new business has won three new major accounts, created as many new jobs and seen a boost in turnover of more than 50 per cent. Now plans are in place, to develop Autocraft's manufacturing facility on St David's Industrial Estate even further with an increase in floor space which will improve security and storage on site, as well as provide room for an better administration function.

Vince puts the successes down to a new culture at Autocraft with the help of a flexible workforce and the aid of a modern management approach.

A number of initiatives have been developed to provide the catalyst for change - shifts have replaced standard working hours, IT has been introduced and an aggressive sales drive implemented.

With customers including Railtrack, Honda, Hitachi and JCB on the books, the future looks good.

"Swapping an international career spanning Europe and Asia for my own business back home, was a huge risk," he said. "I felt it would take two years before we would see the light at what seemed to be a very long tunnel.

"I'm delighted to say that one year in, we have exceeded our wildest expectations which is great."

Anthony Bolter from the Economic Development Unit at Caerphilly council, who offered him support and advice in the early days, said: "In a short space of time, Autocraft has changed beyond recognition from a steady lifestyle business into a forward-thinking, modern and customer-conscious company."

David Garner, from Venture Wales, who has also helped the firm in its new direction said the Assembly grant scheme had given AEL a chance to fulfil its potential.A globetrotting mechanical engineer who returned home to Blackwood to take over the family business has received a further endorsement of his enterprise.

Vince Edwards has been awarded a £50,000 Assembly assistance grant, the latest in a sting of successes for him and his team since he took over the reins at Autocraft Engineering Ltd (AEL) 12 months ago.

Already, an aggressive drive to chase new business has won three new major accounts, created as many new jobs and seen a boost in turnover of more than 50 per cent.

Now plans are in place, to develop Autocraft's manufacturing facility on St David's Industrial Estate even further with an increase in floor space which will improve security and storage on site, as well as provide room for an better administration function.

Vince puts the successes down to a new culture at Autocraft with the help of a flexible workforce and the aid of a modern management approach.

A number of initiatives have been developed to provide the catalyst for change - shifts have replaced standard working hours, IT has been introduced and an aggressive sales drive implemented.

With customers including Railtrack, Honda, Hitachi and JCB on the books, the future looks good.

"Swapping an international career spanning Europe and Asia for my own business back home, was a huge risk," he said. "I felt it would take two years before we would see the light at what seemed to be a very long tunnel.

"I'm delighted to say that one year in, we have exceeded our wildest expectations which is great."

Anthony Bolter from the Economic Development Unit at Caerphilly council, who offered him support and advice in the early days, said: "In a short space of time, Autocraft has changed beyond recognition from a steady lifestyle business into a forward-thinking, modern and customer-conscious company."

David Garner, from Venture Wales, who has also helped the firm in its new direction said the Assembly grant scheme had given AEL a chance to fulfil its potential.