Repairers always prepared

And, as part of that, it is responsible for gas repairs and checks to 25,000 council properties as well.

When formed three years ago KWL used a manual, paper-based, system to organise its workload of up to 1,000 job orders a day.

“It was tedious, labour intensive and time-consuming,” said ITC manager Ian Livingstone.

Then, two years ago its in-house team developed a state-of-the-art automated system which means that a property report that once took several hours can now be inputted, and back office systems updated, within 30 seconds.

The new secure and portable web-based system, which can also text customers when an employee is within an hour of arriving – has increased performance and reliability and saved significant amounts of cash and time.

And the firm is looking to streamline tasks even further for its 320 employees by converting as much data as possible into electronic format.

Now Kingstown Works Ltd is a finalist for the Mail's Business Awards in the Kingston Communications-sponsored Communications Technology in Business Award and the Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare-supported Contribution to the Community Award.

KWL makes a major effort to support local young people through its apprenticeship scheme and also helps many schools and community groups.

As part of that it presented every pupil at Wansbeck Primary School with an alarm clock...to encourage them to be punctual and enjoy a healthy breakfast at the school’s breakfast club.