A FAMILY firm of electrical contractors near Neath is celebrating 10 years in business.

Phase 3 Electrical first opened its doors in April 2001 at a rented unit at D'Arcy Business Park, Llandarcy, with nine members of staff.

The business now employs 25 full-time workers from its own premises in Church Street in Briton Ferry.

Phase 3 recently won its first ever £1 million plus contract after being appointed the electrical contractor on the first phase of the Amman Valley Comprehensive School development for Carmarthenshire Council.

Adrian Hall, the firm's general manager, said the business had experienced natural growth over the past decade by employing apprentices who had worked their way up through the ranks.

He said: "We have picked and chosen the best ones coming through and that is what has given the company security over the past 10 years.

"We don't employ anybody for less than a three-month period and we don't like using agency labour."

Mr Hall said the business had struggled to find funding with its banks but succeeded on obtaining grants from the Welsh Assembly Government and Neath Port Talbot Council.

He added: "We used grant funding to refurbish the offices so we could fix our costs and help the company grow.

"We were able to say we could maintain jobs and grow slightly."

Phase 3 is looking to achieve slight growth over the next 10 years.

Mr Hall added: "I am of the opinion if you create a monster you have to feed that monster. You become distant or removed from your client and the standard of service you can provide."