We're always looking for good-news stories to share with our huge network of finditinsandwell members. We believe it's important to spread cheer around Sandwell, and give other companies the confidence and inspiration to go for bigger contracts, upskill their staff and help keep the Black Country on the business map.

That's why we were delighted to hear from Wayne Bailey, whose firm AGW Electrical in Smethwick is celebrating its tenth year.

The firm of electricians was founded in January 2000 by Adrian Watton and his business associate Stephen Donovan, who had both worked for a large contracting company in the Midlands.

AGW is based at the Sandwell Business Park in Smethwick. The company is very family-oriented, with Adrian's and Stephen's wives working alongside them. Both couples have nephews employed there as electricians, too.

The firm is proud to have trained all its electricians from the beginning of their careers. "The ones we have trained have stayed with us," Wayne told us. "Christina is the most recent trainee - and the first female engineer for us - and they have all completed a college course to complement their training."

Wayne was hired in July 2009 to work in business development - and he recognises that this was a big investment for a small company.

"It was so AGW Electrical would come out fighting on the other side of the recession rather than laying down and accepting it," he said. "That is what impressed me about them. Around that time they also went for a professionally designed website, re-branding and new brochures, which in the long-term will pay off in dividends."

He says that business did "go a little quiet" at the start of the credit crunch. "Maintenance-wise we were still busy, but nobody was having new installation works done," he explained. "I think it was during 2009 when we started attending finditinsandwell events and networking with other businesses in the area which helped the cause. This has been very worthwhile with some of the contacts we have made - and I've also made some good friends that I can regularly talk to outside of meetings."

Since the start of February, AGW has been very busy, with many quotes in the pipeline all around the country. During the February half-term break, three different schools used AGW's services. Other big customers include University College Birmingham and the West Midlands Police.

"And we have just won some small work at the Bullring shopping centre in Birmingham, which I am delighted about from an image and new-customer standpoint," said Wayne. "We have also picked up a few new customers just from knocking on doors and pin-pointing the kinds of companies we would like to work with, both in the Sandwell area and outside of it."

AGW was one of the first firms to take part in our Construction Commitments awareness training: have you signed up yet?

Congratulations to AGW! Is your business approaching a milestone anniversary? Are you emerging from the recession stronger than ever? We'd love to hear from you. Email stephen_massey@sandwell.gov.uk with your good news today.