A GROUP which helps businesses across York and North Yorkshire expand their opportunities has played a major role in helping a firm of architects grow - just before it landed a major regional contract.

Harrogate Design Group (HDG) won a major development project with Leeds Metropolitan University, shortly after the Hornbeam Business Park practice acquired fellow Harrogate firm Sun and Moon for an undisclosed sum.

The deal, which led to an increase in employees from 12 to 20, was done with help and advice from Business Link York and North Yorkshire.

The increase in employees under the Harrogate Design Group banner created a platform for further expansion in the commercial and residential sectors.

It meant larger contracts were in the offing - like the Leeds Metropolitan project, which includes relocating Innovation North, the university's Faculty of Engineering, to Headingley campus.

With commissions for other university sites, the directors see the need to take on more staff in the future.

The award-winning firm, which has clients in the university, education, retail, health, leisure, commercial and residential sectors, was determined to expand and sought the help of business adviser Stuart Fuller, from Business Link York and North Yorkshire. HDG Director Stephen Flory said: "Since our foundation five years ago, we have built a strong client base and designed some high profile schemes, but we were finding difficulty in making that next strategic step that would take us up a division and give us a broader skill base and the critical mass to take on larger commissions.

"It was at this stage that we approached Business Link and we haven't looked back. Stuart has been instrumental in helping the directors to look more objectively and strategically at our development options. He has also assisted us in sharing our vision with our team, and gaining their contributions through facilitating in-house workshops."

Fellow HDG director John Dutton said: "While we have worked for Leeds Met before, this has been on smaller schemes, but now that we can call on the resources and expertise of seven architects supported by a team of committed and dedicated colleagues, they have had the confidence to appoint us for larger and more prestigious projects."

The enlarged practice is already being invited to tender for a number of other large projects and, working alongside Stone and Moon director Mike Jones, has created SMJ Architects - a sub-company geared to supporting the needs of clients, including plumbing supplier Wolseley UK, with a national rather than regional profile.

Updated: 11:41 Wednesday, March 23, 2005