Praise for builders celebrating 150th anniversary
The North's oldest family-owned building contractor
is celebrating its 150th anniversary as it successfully rides out
the recession.
T Manners & Sons, founded in 1860 and based in Bishop
Auckland, is now a fifth-generation company with a turnover of more
than £10m. It plans to thank its 60-strong workforce and its
customers for their loyalty with a series of events, including a
staff day out at the races and a cricket day for clients.
The company has completed major building projects for the
education sector, an area it has specialised in since the 19th
century, industrial and commercial clients and NHS Trusts,
including a new cardiology department for South Tyneside District
Hospital.
The skills of its specialist joinery division are in demand for
everything from the restoration of listed buildings, churches,
casinos and hotels to creating the media desk for the 2012
Olympics.
Alison Davies, Senior Business Solutions Manager for Investors
in People North East, was one of the first to congratulate the
company on its 150 years in business after Manners credited
Investors in People with helping it to become more efficient.
"These are difficult times and this company deserves a real
pat-on-the-back, not only for reaching such a significant
anniversary but also for the effort and commitment it has shown in
using Investors in People to help steer it through the recession,"
she said. "That investment is reaping rewards now and also places
Manners in a strong position for the future."
With a changing market and new frameworks for tendering,
companies in the building sector are under pressure.
"Increasingly, we are finding ourselves competing against large
national contractors," explained Kath Manners, the company's Human
Resources & Training Manager, "and we work closely with the
public sector which means there could be less work in the future.
Times are hard but our strengths are our reputation, our loyal
customers and our workforce.
"Every employee has a vital role to play in our efficiency,
profitability and in attracting and retaining clients. They know
our commitment to Investors in People comes from the highest level.
Our training programme covers everything from toolbox talks to an
apprentice scheme and management development.
"We have used Investors in People since 2002 to help us become
more efficient and we have maintained our position, becoming more
profitable despite a lower turnover in this recession. Our
Investors in People assessor is a friendly face looking at our
business from the outside and this is especially valuable for a
company with a long history.
"With the majority of our team operating on site, we work very
hard at communication and creating a team spirit. There is no doubt
that we are all going to enjoy getting together to celebrate our
150 years," she added.