Local businessman celebrates 25 years with employer

Every job has a silver lining…

Local businessman celebrates 25 years with employer

As the job market changes, it is unusual for people to remain with the same employer for life, in fact the average length of time that people stay with one company is only 8 years. One Norfolk business is bucking this trend with a happy and loyal workforce who are choosing to build a long-term future with the company.

Broadland Windows and Conservatories has 27 full time employees and over 50% have been with the company for more than ten years. Commercial services director, Steve Crane, is the latest member of the team to celebrate an employment milestone this week as he marks 25 years with the firm.

Steve believes that it is the people who make Broadland Windows such a success; “There really is something to be said for the camaraderie that goes with sharing a work environment with others who are equally passionate about their industry and craft. Many companies these days seem to have a fairly high turnover of staff which may impact on the consistency of service delivered. Our surveyors, fitters and service engineers have all worked their way up from the shop-floor so they have first hand experience of what it takes to build a great product.”

“As a company we are committed to staff training and development,” Steve continues. “Each craftsman within the team is appropriately trained and we have an active NVQ scheme whereby trainees study on the job with their more experienced colleagues to gain a valuable recognised qualification. This is accompanied by continued professional training within the workplace and regular appraisals. All of our installers, service engineers and other key personnel carry the Construction Skills Certification Scheme card which gives our customers the reassurance that they are dealing with trained professionals.”

Michael Bye, founder of Broadland Windows said: “When I set the company up more than 34 years ago I knew then, and still know now, that the key to a successful business is the people that you employ. Instilling passion and dedication to the job at every level, is something we at Broadland Windows have always believed in; and it is our priority to foster the creative talents of the best people. We are really proud of our workforce and our excellent retention figures suggest that the individuals in our team are, in turn, proud to work here.”

Broadland Windows was established over 34 years ago and continues to grow from strength to strength. The company is one of Norfolk’s best known, and oldest, window and conservatory companies. Founded in 1974 by Michael Bye, it has outlasted many of its former peers and established an enviable reputation for quality craftsmanship, excellent customer service and great value. In a challenging economy, which is seeing many home improvement companies facing difficulties, and even closure, Broadland Windows is continuing to thrive and grow.

Auto Crimper Arrives

Broadland Windows knows that the company must continue to strive for excellence in both their offerings and practice. In June 2008 an automatic crimping machine was added to the existing production equipment in their workshops. “This is a significant investment for the business that will allow us to streamline our manufacturing process. The investment also demonstrates our confidence in the future of the business and in our team” said Steve Crane, commercial services director.

Peter Trezise, factory manager, added: “The new automatic crimping machine is a powerful tool for producing precise corner joints from aluminium. Not only will this new solution improve productivity from a materials point of view; but will also bolster the morale of our skilled craftsmen, with the knowledge they are working with the best quality precision machinery in the trade. “

CNC machine for Aluminium Windows

Sam Williams of Archant wrote the following within the Norwich Evening News 19th April 2008

There is good news at Broadland Windows & Conservatories in the Hellesdon Park Industrial Estate, where bosses are preparing for a bumper year despite economic uncertainty - and they say a feared slump in the housing market could even work in their favour.

Despite concerns following the collapse of Bowater Home Improvements, which traded as Zenith Staybright, on the Sweetbriar Industrial Estate in January with the loss of 200 jobs, and 165 jobs axed in Lancashire by city firm Anglian Group the following month, Broadland chiefs are planning to take on two additional staff.

The company is also investing in a new cutting machine to quicken production in its factory after turnover hit a high of £2.4m last year.

Commercial manager Stephen Crane said: "We are doing very well and our March figures have just come in above target. We are settling in for a good year and have budgeted for growth.

And a slowdown in the housing market feared by many industries could even help secure business for the firm, Mr Crane says.
"No one has any confidence in the housing market, it's a buyers' market, so people aren't putting homes up for sale. So people will stay where they are and improve their homes rather than take the risk of moving. We don't have proof of that because there's so much uncertainty in the market, but that's how we see it."
Installation manager Matthew Bye added: "That's why we are still successful, because we haven't put all our eggs in one basket.
If we just had retail we would have felt the pinch just like everyone else. But because we also have the commercial side it has ensured a stable sales turnover"

K & EnergiKare

Pilkington EnergiKare Scheme.

Pilkington are advertising on tv and in national newspapers etc.. this scheme.

It is to promote the use of their sealed units constructed Optiwhite Low Ion external glass – Argon cavity – Pilkington K internal glass and I would ask you look at website
www.pilkington.co.uk/energikare to understand more.

The product broadland windows have at present which currently meets their criteria to use the scheme logo is the ‘C’ rated John Fredericks Window (Or A & B)
The windows have the Window Energy Rating or WER labels applied in their factory.

On the basis of this we have a direct link to Pilkington's website when prospects search on providers in our region – try it yourself !!

Sometime in the future Broadland Windows will need to attain WER for the hardwood windows and the aluminium windows and have our own WER labels – this will mean that all our products could be part of the EnergiKare scheme – not just the PVCu JF windows.