BDC Magazine - Online version December 2015 Issue - 216 | Page 66

Szerelemy.qxp_feature 2 23/10/2015 12:48 Page 64

BUILDING WITH STONE: SZERELMEY

160 years of
Excellence
Specialists in stonework, faience
and restoration since 1855

stablished by the eponymous Colonel Nicolas

E

esteemed history, it has the credentials to deliver. That being said,

Charles Szerelmey, a talented engineer with a keen

emphasis remains on its restoration sector and, while the compa-

interest in Ancient Egyptian archeology and

ny's passion for tradition is unmoving, such commitment has only

preservation, Szerelmey now heralds as the oldest

augmented its expectations of quality.

restoration company in the UK. This year marks

It's in part thanks to Szerelmey's significant investment into its

its 160th anniversary and, while much has changed since its

in-house design and technology department that the company has

founder's invention of the remarkable zopissa restoration process

achieved such industry and customer repute, and remained at the

and his subsequent liquid stone product, the company is deter-

cutting-edge of restoration and construction works. At the same

mined to stay true to its ethic of family values and patriotism,

time as being a progressive force in the industry, its principle of

thereby securing the sector and the practices on which it depends

preservation continues to run through the company's core ambi-

for centuries to come.

tions. As John MacEachin, Commercial Director of Szerelmey

While conceived with a view to conducting restoration only, the

reiterates, “The company, as a group is trying to not only safeguard

company's diversification over the years has seen it become a fron-

the beautiful buildings of former ages, but also preserve the skills of

trunner in the design and development of processes, fixing, instal-

British restoration heritage. The press recurrently state that British

lation, thermal engineering and testing. Its services have similarly

construction/restoration skills are disappearing and, as a group, we

expanded to include conservation, hard landscaping, new facades

feel really passionate that such expertise and distinctive skills

and internals, and the addition of a specialist faiance division.

shouldn't be allowed to fade away and become obsolete. We there-

From external cladding to bathroom fitments, this is a company

fore promote apprenticeships and actively seek to support these

which is reluctant to relinquish the reins and, with such a long and

skills and young people looking to enter the industry.”

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