Macclesfield-based Filtration Services Ltd, which was established in 1993, recently won a contract worth £1.26m and has seen its turnover more than double within the past 12 months.

Managing Director Dr Andrew Walker engaged with Lancaster University Management School through the GOLD Programme run by the Department of Entrepreneurship, Strategy and Innovation.

Dr Walker said: "This is our best year ever and this is down to our involvement with Lancaster University.

"Being on the GOLD Programme has helped us to focus better on how we run the business and I don’t think that we would be where we are today without that support."

Senior Teaching Fellow Ian Gordon said: "The GOLD programme was designed to simulate the benefit of having a non-executive director within participants’ businesses and give them the experience of being a non-executive director. 

"Lancaster University has a strong track-record of working with businesses of all sizes and it is immensely gratifying that Andrew has seen his turnover double and that Lancaster University had a positive part to play in that journey."

The GOLD Programme is not currently running. However, the Department of Entrepreneurship, Strategy and Innovation is now delivering the Innovation in Manufacturing and Engineering (IME) programme, which is specifically designed for small companies who have a significant engineering or manufacturing part to their business and who want to develop their leadership and innovation skills.