Doors & Windows
Working together for success
Continued success for Shelforce is testament to the processes in place and , most importantly , an unbeatable team , says Business Manager Howard Trotter …
It has been quite a year for Shelforce . In fact , it ’ s been quite a few years for the Birmingham-based window and door manufacturer .
Undoubtably , receiving The Kings Award for Enterprise in Promoting Opportunity ( through social mobility ) in April , the highest official UK award for British business , has been the icing on the cake .
Recent , runaway success , however , can be traced to the summer of 2020 during the pandemic . It was then that Shelforce launched its Fireshel 30-minute fire , smoke , and security resistant door for Local Authority building projects .
Combining a product that has been in high demand ever since with a professional , committed team has been the perfect mix , and Shelforce posted record turnover of more than £ 5.8m for last year , which was just under a 50 % increase on the previous year . And with the company on track to hit the £ 8m mark this year , the Shelforce juggernaut is not stopping .
A ROYAL SEAL OF APPROVAL
Receiving The Kings Award for Enterprise in Promoting Opportunity ( through social mobility ) has been Shelforce ’ s biggest honour to date , the internationally-renowned symbol of excellence propelling the business into the public eye on a national scale and beyond the industry .
The company was featured on primetime news slots on BBC Midlands Today and ITV
Central , as well as on national radio .
The company has given disadvantaged people , many of whom couldn ’ t get work due to their disability , the confidence to work and contribute to a successful company in a professional industry and provided them with financial independence and a career / future , with 75 % of its workforce having a disability ,
Howard Trotter , Business Manager , said : “ Promoting opportunity is the reason behind our continued success and this is fantastic recognition for our incredible team and the processes we have in place . Being awarded The Kings Award for Enterprise has also enhanced our reputation further and attracted attention from potential clients , including other local authorities and housing associations . It has also provided us with an invaluable platform to raise awareness , showcase our commitment to inclusion and serve as a role model for businesses seeking to embrace diversity as a core value .”
CONTINUOUS RECOGNITION
Award success has been a consistent highlight for Shelforce for the last two years . In 2021 Shelforce were crowned the 2021 Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce ( GBCC ) Business of the Year and scooped the Excellence for People Development award at the same event .
In the same year the company also scooped the Equality Trailblazer award for the West Midlands at the British Chamber of Business Awards and Outstanding Contribution to Diversity and Inclusion at the Asian Business Chamber Awards .
In 2022 Shelforce won Diversity Champion at the Scale Up Awards and has been nominated for the Manufacturing Excellence Award at this year ’ s event .
This year Shelforce also won Business of the Year at the Great British Business and Community Awards as well as and the ‘ Most Significant Service Improvement ’ award at the first ever Housing Awards .
Howard said : “ Awards have been a big part of our recent success and what has been great has been how we have not just been recognised for our dedication to employing and training people with disabilities from all backgrounds and our promotion of inclusion in our workplace , but also the manufacturing side of the business ; we produce high-quality products in a hugely professional and competitive marketplace .”
INVESTMENTS FOR THE FUTURE
Shelforce specialises in supplying high quality windows , doors and fire doors to local authority building projects , including Birmingham City Council , and has had to increase manufacturing capacity to produce more than 200 fire doors a week to cope with demand .
Alongside new machinery , Shelforce has also invested £ 10,000 in a new software system and new phone system to help increase efficiency , as well as its full-time team .
“ With almost 35,000 fire doors to replace in Birmingham , demand is set to remain both high and constant ,” added Howard . “ Our investment means we are set up to cope with that , and continue our core values , which are to provide the best products and services to our clients and inclusive employment opportunities .”
www . shelforce . com
40 OCTOBER 2023 CLEARVIEW-UK . COM