Andel Marks Major Milestone with Appointment of First Finance Director as 100th Employee

At Andel, we are proud to mark a significant milestone in our growth journey with the appointment of our first Finance Director, Richard Sullivan — who joins us as our 100th employee.

Reaching 100 colleagues is a moment of real pride for our business. However, creating the role of Finance Director represents something even more important: our commitment to scaling sustainably, strengthening leadership and planning confidently for the future.

A Strategic Step Forward

Richard joins us following senior finance roles at AES Engineering and Burton Security. His experience in engineering-led and security-focused organisations makes him an excellent fit for Andel as we continue to evolve.

He was attracted by our strong heritage and clear growth trajectory.

“I like that Andel is still small enough for me to be closely involved in the day-to-day running of the business, yet large enough to be genuinely challenging,” Richard said. “Andel is producing the right product at the right time.”

His appointment strengthens our senior leadership team and reflects the scale of our ambition as a Yorkshire manufacturer.

From Garden Shed to £14m Manufacturer

Founded in 1992 in a garden shed in Marsden, we began as a small team developing what would become our flagship Floodline leak detection system. Today, we are a £14m-turnover manufacturer serving customers across transport, government, utilities, healthcare and defence.

Over three decades, we have grown into one of Yorkshire’s long-standing innovation success stories — while remaining true to our engineering roots.

Reflecting on the milestone, Richard added:

“Becoming Andel’s 100th employee feels particularly fitting, and the creation of the Finance Director role demonstrates the company’s foresight and commitment to future growth.”

Finance as a True Business Partner

Richard’s remit includes strengthening our six-person finance team and evolving the function beyond traditional reporting. Our focus is to ensure finance operates as a strategic partner across the organisation, delivering insight that supports informed, confident decision-making.

“Finance should act as a true business partner, providing the information needed to support better decision-making,” Richard explained.

As we continue to grow, innovate and invest in our people and facilities, this shift will help ensure our operational strength is matched by financial clarity and strategic foresight.

Trusted in Landmark Locations

Our technology has been installed in some of the UK’s most recognisable buildings and infrastructure projects, including The Shard, the Houses of Parliament, Canary Wharf, The O2, and several venues at the London 2012 Olympic Games, where our solutions were cited as a success story.

Now operating from our more carbon-neutral facility near Barnsley, we remain committed to environmental innovation, manufacturing excellence and supporting critical infrastructure across the UK and beyond. Our work has been recognised with multiple regional awards in Yorkshire and further afield.

For us at Andel, this milestone is about more than numbers. It reflects the dedication of our team, the trust of our customers and our clear ambition for the future. Welcoming our 100th employee — and our first Finance Director — signals the next chapter in our continued growth as a proud Yorkshire manufacturing success story.