WHEN James Dyson decided to move production of his revolutionary vacuum cleaner to Malaysia, it had a traumatic impact on one of East Lancashire's oldest companies.

The Accrington Brush Company supplied key components for the machine that came from nowhere to become Britain's best-seller.

Virtually overnight, the company lost around half of its turnover. The company's work-force went from 70 to 30 and prospects for the firm with almost 140 years of tradition appeared bleak.

But today, the outlook is brighter and the business has been selected for a 'design make-over' by some of Britain's leading style gurus.

Accrington Brush is one of only eleven companies in the UK taking part in the Design Council project which aims to show how design can improve business.

A team of top designers has already visited its factory at Lower Grange Mill in Accrington for what was described as an intensive dose of advice and guidance.

Managing director Antony Farnworth is now hoping the initiative will lead to a new range of products to help rebuild the company's fortunes. "What we are hoping to do with the Design Council is to receive help in bringing innovative new products to the market," said Antony.

"We are keen to continue to manufacture in the UK and need to differentiate ourselves from cheap, high volume imports. "By using good design and build quality, combined with a good customer focus, we aim to develop and produce lifestyle products successfully in the UK."

Accrington Brush is running the Design Council project alongside a separate scheme operated by the Business School at the University of Central Lancashire. Under the 'Teaching Company Scheme', the business receives specialist support for its marketing activities.

"We simply did not have any marketing expertise," he explained. "We were a vacuum cleaner brush manufacturer and our customers found us."

Accrington Brush still supplies other leading manufacturers such as Hoover and Goblin, but has started to re-invent itself and diversify into other markets.

Kate Staley has joined the company as marketing manager and a new corporate logo is the first visible sign of the changes sweeping through the business.

It was Kate who first heard of the Design Council project 'Design Led Business 24/7' and applied to take part.

Under the three-year scheme, the select group of company will be helped by leading figures such as branding guru Richard Williams, creator of the highly-successful Hovis

'baked beans' packaging; top product designer Paul Priestman, the man behind the exciting new Virgin Pendolino train; and the former head of design at

DIY giant Homebase, Colum Lowe.

They are among teams of design experts who spent a 'high impact' day with each of the companies involved to understand their business and quickly identify opportunities for using design to boost profits and performance.

Harry Rich, Business Director at the Design Council, said: "For the first time, the Design Council is working directly with companies and designers to demonstrate how design can be used as a powerful strategic business tool.

"Design Led Business 24/7 will help a small group of companies produce innovative new products which stand out in a crowded marketplace, add value to their brands and boost their overall business performance.

"We will then share their experiences with the wider business community so other

manufacturers can benefit from what they've learnt."

Accrington Brush is already diversifying and among recent contracts are a deal to supply Betterware with brushes for washing conservatories and hair brushes which will end up for sale in high street stores such as Boots and Body Shop.

It has also launched its first own-label brand, the 'Optimiser' range of cleaners for golf clubs and golf balls.

For a company that began its life in 1863 as the Eureka Brush Company, let's hope that Antony has found the solution.