"We are a privately run and owned national business."
A Lancashire firm which supplies clients worldwide, including celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, with bespoke mobile catering systems, is celebrating over 40 years in business.
Darwen based Wilkinson Mobile Catering Systems has manufactured catering trailers and mobile vans for more than 3,000 customers since the business was established in 1978.
Its experienced and skilled manufacturing team, based at the head office in Darwen, builds trailers and converts a range of existing vehicles from Volkswagen camper vans to double decker buses into catering vehicles.
Their clients span the globe, reaching as far as Australia, and include iconic locations including Harrods, Manchester City FC and celebrity chef Jamie Oliver who used a converted mobile van created by the company in his Food Tube videos.
The family business has been supported by local accountancy firm Pierce for the past couple of years, who have helped the company manage multiple changes to payroll.
Angela Rawson, Financial Director at Wilkinson Mobile Catering Systems, said: “There have been lots of changes with PAYE and pensions in recent years. Pierce have taken the headache of that away from us and have seamlessly implemented those changes to the business.
“Pierce have a really skilled and friendly team, and they do all the gritty accountancy work for us, which we don’t have the skills for in-house including year-end accounts, management accounts, VAT returns as well as payroll and pension support.
“We’re so proud of our Lancashire roots, so having a local accountancy firm was crucial to us.”
Simon Diggle, Director at Pierce said: “It’s been a pleasure working with Angela and the team and supporting them as they go into their 40th year of business.
“Wilkinson Mobile Catering Systems is a very successful, innovative and high-quality business and we’re really proud to be working with a firm based in the heart of Lancashire who are working with clients on a global scale.”