A YORK conservatory company is set to make millions of pounds worth of exports to Sweden.

Aurora Conservatories Ltd, of Naburn, is in talks with Willab Tradgard, near Helsingborg, which was impressed with its Aristocracy Collection of self-build hardwood conservatories.

These were on display at the BBC Gardeners' World exhibition at the NEC Birmingham, which the Swedish firm visited in June.

A deal between the two companies is expected to be sealed next month giving Willab Tradgard exclusivity in Sweden.

Anders Williamsson, Willab Tradgard's president, estimated demands from his firm would generate about £2.4 million worth of revenue a year for Aurora.

In anticipation, Aurora Conservatories has recruited eight staff - a craftsman joiner, four apprentice joiners, two sales representatives and an operations manager, swelling its workforce to 20.

Dr Norman Slater, managing director of Aurora Conservatories, said: "Mr Williamsson was so impressed with the product that he bought a bespoke conservatory for his own house."

Dr Slater was joined in his negotiations by fellow director, Louise Micklethwait, and her mother, chairwoman Betty Micklethwait.

It has been a good season for the 106-year-old family company which was started by John Leslie Micklethwait at Toft Green, York, initially as a carriage and cartmaker.

The firm produces bespoke conservatories, Edwardian- style orangeries and garden rooms - ranging in price from £25,000 to £200,000.

The firm's unusual conservatories last month attracted the interest of TV designers Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan on Channel 5 who flew by helicopter to film a conservatory being hand-built for a Channel 5 series.

Dr Slater said: "When the series is screened at the end of next month it is likely to give us yet another positive response and a huge fillip to sales."

Updated: 11:02 Friday, October 07, 2005