A TRAINING provider tops the most profitable Selby SME list after targeting corporate clients and overseas contracts.

The Skills Network, which appears at number three in the Top 50 list, reported pre-tax profits of £2.57 million from revenues of £10.57 million.

Founded six years ago, the organisation currently employs a workforce of more than 600, with 113 full-time people in Yorkshire to deliver training funded by its partner colleges to more than 25,000 learners from businesses in a variety of sectors.

Funding for the training is facilitated through The Skills Network's partnership arrangements with more than 20 further education colleges and private training providers.

With the escalation of business, The Skills Network has developed more paper-based and online courses in order to suit a vast number of sectors to keep up with growing demand.

Having recently entered the international market, its recruitment has increased further; a venture which has already seen the company working in partnership with the Canadian rugby team, Rugby Canada.

Also representing the Selby district in the Top 50's best ten performing SMEs is electrical switchboard manufacturer G.R Electrical Service, based in Sherburn-in-Elmet.

Employing a team of 42, the business appears at number six in the Top 50 with pre-tax profits of almost £2 million.

The company was founded in 1976 manufacturing switchgear for the National Coal Board from premises at Thorp Arch, Wetherby.

By 1990 the company was well established with a £2 million turnover, however changes throughout the 1990's in markets, with demise of the Coal Industry, brought about a redesign of the switchboards.

1996 brought about a change of premises with relocation to Sherburn in a purpose built factory.

New markets developed into retail, commercial, health and education, and by 1999, the factory was extended to the current manufacturing area, During 2006 G.R Electrical built its own in-house thermal test laboratory to perform enhanced testing and integration of 3D CAD/CAM modelling design.

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