A fast-growing bespoke joinery manufacturer and specialist interior fit‑out contractor has won the Eaton Smith Solicitors Business of the Year Award in the 30th anniversary year.
Honley-based Deanhouse Group was taken over by Neil Addyman and has gone from a £1.8 million annual turnover to £9 million, increasing the workforce from 10 people to just over 40.
Neil received the award at an annual breakfast event at the Accu Stadium in Huddersfield celebrating the best businesses in Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield.
The Deanhouse Group has worked for the top five Premier League football clubs, notably Manchester City where the company has carried out work at the club’s Academy and also at the Etihad Stadium. There was also £3 million works for Aston Villa.
Other prestigious clients include M&S, Costa Coffee and the University of Nottingham.
Neil joined the Deanhouse Group in July 2022 with the intention of buying the company, which he did two years ago.
The company’s growth has been rapid allowing it to double the size of its workshop unit and also invest in the latest machinery. The company is also working on an AI project with the University of Huddersfield.
Neil said it was an honour to win the Business of the Year Award, succeeding another fast-growing Huddersfield success story, precision components supplier Accu, based just down the road in Brockholes.
“We have put a lot of hard work in over the last four years and we’ve done it through word-of-mouth and organic growth,” said Neil.
“If you do a good job, people come back and it’s easier to retain clients than win new business.
“I say ‘yes’ to everything. I’m known as the ‘yes man!’ I always tell my team if there’s an issue, find a solution.
“There’s no such thing as a problem, there’s a solution waiting to be found.”
Runners-up were Aquatrust Water & Ventilation Ltd, a Cleckheaton-based specialist in water hygiene, treatment and ventilation compliance services.
In third place was Halifax-based Celtic Castles, a unique travel company specialising in luxury castle rentals across the UK and Ireland.
The other finalists – all winners of the monthly award – were: Beanstalk HR, Simpson Wood, Five Talents, Rainbow & Co, Partsource, The Mount School, The Engine Room, Crest IT and Ruddi’s Retreat.
The event also heard from Accu’s UK managing director Alastair Morris, which won the 2025 award.
Alastair said Accu had been launched from the founders’ bedrooms 15 years ago with the ambition to become the ‘Amazon of engineering components.’
The company now ships thousands of orders all around the world every day and has launched subsidiary companies in the United States and Australia. Its workforce now stands at 150 and continues to grow.
The company took on naming rights of Huddersfield Town’s stadium 12 months ago and Alastair said: “We have a great pride in our brand and shout about it.
“We have grown 30% since last year and in a flat economy we are proud of that.
“The world is in a whirlwind and a lot of turmoil and it’s easy to feel down but we see optimism and a great time to invest.
“Whatever is going to happen in the next year I urge you to see it as an opportunity.”
Eaton Smith Solicitors launched the Business of the Year Awards in 1996 and this year is the 30th anniversary.
The roll of honour of previous winners includes Huddersfield companies Attik (1997), Paxman Coolers (1999), North Fire Ltd (2011) and Specialist Glass Products (2021).
Image caption: Deanhouse Group MD Neil Addyman (right) with business development manager Aaron Eaton
