Harvey Water Softeners are the largest water softener manufacturer in Europe. They design and build thousands of domestic water softeners in their purpose-built factory in Surrey every year. The firm employ 74 people and have recently invested millions in new manufacturing processes. The company began in the 1970s when Harvey Bowden moved from a soft-water area in Cornwall, to a hard-water area in Surrey. He installed a softener, was amazed at the results and started selling them. In 1988, Harvey worked with an American company to bring a compact under-the-sink softener to the UK market. The successful product allowed the business to move to its own factory in where it is still based today. Harvey and Managing Director Martin Hurworth's vision is to have softened water in every UK home. The business keep staff sweet with big social events and there's also a ‘Fun Committee' that organises golf, bowling, payday drinks and comedy nights.