Rockford Components achieves 160+% export growth

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Rockford’s exports have increased by more than 160% in the past two years and as a result it has entered the Sunday Times SME Export Track 100 in 9th position.

The company’s success has come from joining Sharing in Growth (SiG), the government-backed programme to increase the competitiveness of the UK aerospace supply chain.

Rockford Components, which has plants in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, Rendlesham, Suffolk and Salisbury, Wiltshire, was selected for the Sharing in Growth (SiG) programme in 2014, after annual turnover at the family owned business had plateaued.

Today, the company is reportedly the UK’s largest independent provider of wiring, interconnect & system solutions for the aerospace, defence and industrial markets, with exports of £6.5m on sales of £16.1m.

With the support of SiG, Rockford has transformed, changed its culture, created a farsighted strategy, invested in business and staff development and delivered operational performance in line with world-class practices.

As a result, it has secured almost £50m in contracts, created 100 new jobs and increased exports to more than 50% of production. It is currently recruiting a range of roles to cope with its increased sales, including shop floor operatives, engineers and technicians.

Last year, Rockford launched a new system solutions capability where it works with its suppliers to provide full systems rather than just cable assemblies or wire harnesses.

This helped net a multi-million-pound contract to deliver aircraft panels to a world-leading defence aircraft manufacturer.

The company’s new business winning strategy also includes additional investment in a concept called ‘Future Factory’ in its Worksop facility, which could help move annual sales up to £40m and potentially lead to another 60 new jobs.

Rockford’s managing director, Peter Lion commented: “To go straight into the top 10 of such a prestigious league table is fantastic and a real testament to how the Rockford team has worked with Sharing in Growth to realise our ambitions.

“By focusing on the needs of our customers, we have gone from being a good British company to become a great international company.”