Pendle Forklift Services is expanding its services beyond Lancashire.

A Lancashire-based forklift company is expanding its services across the North West of England.

Pendle Forklift Services started in 1981, primarily serving local businesses from its Earby, Lancashire site. It is now extending its forklift hire and maintenance services to Yorkshire and surrounding areas.

Pendle spokeswoman Helen Matterson says the company prides itself on offering a "complete package" from forklift hire and sales to spare parts and operator training.

"We are very competitive in the marketplace and obtain a lot of new business through word-of-mouth," Matterson explains.

The company has a long-term hire fleet of 190 forklifts and about 40 forklifts on its short-term hire fleet. As an independent forklift supplier, Pendle says it does not distribute or represent any particular brand but "can pick and choose the best forklift for the job".

While some forklift companies have closed or scaled back during the global recession, Pendle has expanded over the last three years "due to old and new customers wanting value for money more than ever".

"Pendle anticipated possible cut-backs could occur with the downturn and scheduled its fleet to suit individual companies," Matterson says.

"We have a large customer base that has been with us for many years and continue to be happy with our service. We have also invested in heavy good vehicles to provide competitive forklift transport to all areas of the UK and we have a selection of specialist forklifts with lifting capacities from 4,000 kg (8,819 lb.) to 15,000 kg (33,069 lb.)," she adds.

In 2008, Pendle opened an ITSSAR-approved training centre at its Earby site. It has two instructors who work at the training centre and on customer sites.

ITSSAR, the Independent Training Standards Scheme and Register, is a UK Health & Safety Commission-approved accrediting organisation for forklift operator training.