AN AUSTRIAN company is flying the flag of confidence in Herefordshire as Brexit approaches.

Rallying against widespread negative reporting and predictions of businesses leaving the UK over Brexit, Austrian company Gilles Energie have made a statement of their faith in the future of the country.

Established in 1992 in Austria, the company specialises in manufacturing biomass heating systems, with their award-winning innovative boilers utilizing waste products, ranging from wood pellets to corn stems as fuel.

“Despite the current uncertainty in relation to the UK leaving the EU, we decided to bring Gilles Biomass Heating Ltd to Hereford,” Gilles International Sales Director Christian Siessl said.

“While it has been reported in the media that numerous companies are thinking of leaving the UK in fear of the consequences of Brexit, we have made this investment in order to provide the best service for our current and future clients in the UK.”

The Holme Lacy Road based branch, a subsidiary of Austrian company Gilles Energie, opened its doors last October, creating six full-time jobs in Herefordshire.

In stark contrast to the warnings and fears of many, the company is not shy about its desire to expand within the UK.

“With a growing number of installations and service work, our plan is to take on more people and grow as a company as well,” Mr Siessl said.

Due to the Renewable Heat Incentive grant scheme, Gilles Austria has supplied more than 1,000 boilers to UK clients in the past year and Mr Siessl is confident that the market is set to continue expanding.

And they are not to be put off by the speculation surrounding the recent announcement that Honda is to close its doors in Swindon, about which Mr Siessl has an alternative theory.

“It is very disappointing what has happened to the 3,500 people working for Honda in Swindon and I feel very sorry for the thousands of skilled and dedicated staff who work at the factory, their families and all of those employed in the supply chain in that area.” Mr Siessl said.

“Despite what Honda are saying about it being a restructuring decision and having nothing to do with Brexit, I personally think that it definitely had a big influence on Honda’s decision to leave the UK.

“It is hard to say what would have happened in this particular case if the remain campaign had won the 2016 vote, but another reason that needs to be taken into account for their decision might be that since February 1, there has been a free trade agreement between Japan and the EU.

“This new agreement removes a lot of import and export trade barriers for both parties and with the UK leaving the EU this huge trade relief will not be available for Honda.”