This shift in fenestration, where technical innovation and R & D have long been drivers of competitive edge has seen forward-thinking organisations understand that innovation must extend beyond product lines to the people. A fine example of this is Birmingham-based Shelforce, the manufacturer of high-performance windows and doors, and long-term supplier to Birmingham City Council.
With a legacy stretching beyond 185 years, people have always been at the centre of the operation; and continually redefining what it means to be an inclusive employer.
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Shelforce is well-known in business for putting the wellbeing of its workforce first; many of whom live with physical or learning disabilities, and supports them not just with jobs, but with meaningful careers.
Shelforce’ s story also challenges an outdated view of manufacturing as purely mechanical. That innovation isn’ t just about the end product. It’ s about your culture, your values, and your people.
This philosophy is paying off. By creating an environment where every employee feels supported, heard, and empowered, Shelforce has built a workforce that is deeply
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engaged, highly collaborative, and inherently innovative. And that innovation doesn’ t just show up in their award-winning fire doors; it’ s visible in how problems are solved, how teams communicate, and how the company continuously adapts to challenges.
This commitment isn’ t charity; it’ s strategy And, in 2023, Shelforce was awarded the prestigious King’ s Award for Enterprise in Promoting Opportunity.
“ When you value people, you create an environment where excellence thrives,” says Howard Trotter, Business Manager.“ We’ re not just manufacturing products, we’ re unlocking potential.”
This holistic approach, where employee development is seen as business development, is redefining what modern leadership looks like. At Shelforce, people with disabilities don’ t just participate in the process; they actively shape it – and the business.
The fenestration industry has always been known for technical progress, from energy-efficient glazing to cutting-edge fire safety standards. But technical R & D
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is only one side of the innovation coin. True resilience and long-term growth come when people are nurtured with the same attention that goes into product design.
Shelforce embodies this balance. The company continues to invest in new technologies and process improvements, but it never forgets that behind every innovation is a team of motivated, skilled individuals. Shelforce offers a powerful model. One where productivity and purpose aren’ t competing nor compromised.
While machines may build the product, it’ s people who build the business.
www. shelforce. com
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24 JUNE 2025 |
CLEARVIEW-UK. COM |