Birkenhead-based Heap & Partners dates back to 1866 and has unveiled new specialist components to be used in oil and gas and life science projects around the world. Tony McDonough reports

Specialist Wirral manufacturer Heap & Partners is launching a trio of new product lines and is targeting £2m worth of exports in the first three years.

The firm, which dates back to 1866, is to start manufacturing a new hi-tech plastic diaphragm valve, spring check valves and air distribution manifolds at its Birkenhead headquarters. They will be used on oil and gas and life science projects around the world.

Heap & Partners is one of the UK’s leading manufacturers and distributors of fluid control equipment. Earlier this year the company was shortlisted in the emerging markets category of the Northern Powerhouse Export Awards.

It has pursued a three-pronged ‘People, Planet, and Profit’ strategy since 2012 which sees the business work on a whole host of environmental and community initiatives. Carbon-neutral since 2017, Heaps gives six paid days per year to every member of staff to volunteer for local charities or to undertake fundraising activities.

Last year the firm supported 42 staff volunteering days and matched £12,000 in funding for charities. Heaps is encouraging staff to go vegetarian one day a week to help reduce the environmental impact of meat and dairy.

It is a partner of Wirral Council’s Apprenticeship programme regularly hiring Wirral residents who are not in employment, education or training. Heap & Partners managing director, David Millar, said: “In a tough economic climate all of us in business are determined to do everything we can to safeguard jobs by boosting our international exports.

“With these new product lines we are increasingly optimistic that we can survive and thrive as the UK looks to recover from the lockdown imposed during the coronavirus crisis. Never before has manufacturing been so vital for the Northern Powerhouse and the British economy as a whole.”