FAMILY
PICTURES
BY GRAEME ROWATT
PRIDE
Having maintained production throughout the pandemic , BTS Facades and Fabrications is investing in the future . Peter Barron talks to the couple leading an Aycliffe company that truly is a family business …
As they reflect on life from the smart offices that serve as an impressive showcase for their business , Phil and Marcia Atkinson are quick to acknowledge the importance of family values to their success .
And it ’ s not just the collection of immediate relatives who play vital roles at BTS Facades and Fabrications that they want to salute . It ’ s also the “ wider family ” of employees who have enabled the company to not only negotiate the challenges of the pandemic but emerge in award-winning shape .
“ It hasn ’ t been easy over the past couple of years , but they ’ ve gone the extra mile and now we ’ re ready to grow again ,” says Phil , managing director of the Aycliffe business .
During inductions , new employees are told ‘ Welcome to the BTS family ’ – and it ’ s a philosophy that ’ s reaping rewards as the company goes from strength to strength .
“ We ’ re lucky to have a fantastic team and we wouldn ’ t be where we are without them ,” adds Marcia , finance director of the business , based in Woodham Road .
The couple go back a long way . They met at Cleves Cross Primary School , in Ferryhill , then went their separate ways until getting together in their early 20s , and have now been married for 22 years . They have a daughter , Elisha , 25 , who has a journalism degree and works in public relations , and son , Carter , 18 , who is studying for a degree in graphic design .
Phil ’ s grounding was at Evenwood construction company , CA Group , where his dad , Bryan , was founder and chairman . Phil spent 12 years on the shop floor and rose to become commercial manager . Meanwhile , Marcia had worked in a variety of accountancy and secretarial roles , including at Ferryhill surgery .
BTS Facades and Fabrications was launched in 2007 , at Greenhills Business Park in Spennymoor , and Phil ’ s involvement began two years later when his dad bought into the company . Initially , Phil was joint managing director with his stepbrother , David , but became sole MD when the business moved to Aycliffe in 2012 .
Since then , more than £ 3m has been invested in the site , with Marcia overseeing the development of modern , highspec offices , and David masterminding the introduction of efficient automation that has enabled the BTS Facades and Fabrications to significantly grow its customer base .
The company manufactures a range of metal ancillary products , including coping ; feature flashings ; window jams ; window sills ; and mesh , in collaboration with the Expanded Metal Company , at Hartlepool . Testing is also a major part of the business alongside manufacturing .
However , the core product is ‘ rainscreens ’ – bespoke , aesthetically pleasing , fully ventilated , and fire-resistant outer shells for all kinds of buildings . And the company ’ s own offices – in a gleaming black design – are an impressive example .
“ We ’ ve made our offices the showcase for the business , and that ’ s down to Marcia ’ s eye for detail and design ,” acknowledges Phil .
The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 17