In 1994, John Cosgrove opened the doors to what he described as a“ little shop,” focused on supplying high-quality uPVC windows and doors to local tradespeople. That little shop was the start of Northern Trade Windows( NTW), and while a lot’ s changed since then, that original mission hasn’ t. We’ re still a family business, just bigger. Now, as General Manager, I help Managing Director Elliot Cosgrove, John’ s son, as we keep building that business.

John himself spent years in the industry, as a salesman in the 1970s and 80s. John’ s experience laid the foundation for Northern Trade Windows. His aim was simple: to provide high-quality products to trade customers, delivered with honesty and personal service. That approach quickly attracted a loyal customer base and allowed the company to grow rapidly, producing 400 – 500 frames a week by the early 2000s.

Even during the 2008 recession, a time that saw many window companies close their doors, NTW pushed forward, expanding into a second site in Bradford. It was a testament to the company’ s resilience and the strong relationships it had built with local installers and suppliers.

From father to son

Elliot practically grew up alongside the business, with his dad starting the company the same year he started school and then helping out during school holidays. Elliot didn’ t go straight from summer jobs to the main seat. First came university, professional rugby, and even a stint in Australia. But in 2014, he returned to the family business as a self-employed salesman

. It wasn’ t long before he recognised both the challenges and the opportunities in front of NTW.

Many of our trade customers are sole traders or small teams who rely on us to deliver not only products but peace of mind. They don’ t have huge admin departments or logistics teams. They need a supplier who understands the pressure of quoting jobs, juggling schedules, and making every install count. We offer technical advice, help with product selection, and work hard to understand the context of each job. Some of us have been fitters too, so we know what it’ s like to do the job.

Why experience shapes product choice

Over 30 years in this trade has taught us something very clear: a great product on paper isn’ t always the right product on-site. That’ s why our range is deliberately focused and proven in the real world. Everything we supply has been chosen through experience, not just catalogues.

We look at what’ s install-friendly, what holds up over time, and what offers consistent quality. From the robust VEKA M70 uPVC profile system, to our composite door range and Yale hardware, every product has passed the test of being handled by real tradespeople under pressure.

This approach is especially important for our core customers; the one-man bands,

the small partnerships, the independent installers who don’ t have the time or tolerance for products that don’ t deliver. They need to know the materials are going to turn up on time, fit right first time, and stand the test of time.

Trade vs commercial

We often say: Commercial customers get trade treatment, but more importantly, trade customers get commercial treatment. That’ s more than a phrase. It reflects our belief that independent installers, especially sole traders and smaller outfits, deserve the same professionalism, precision, and responsiveness that large commercial contractors receive.

We’ ve earned our stripes in the commercial sector, working on high-profile projects like a 684-bed student accommodation scheme in Norwich, where we supplied over 1,000 windows. That kind of work pushes our capabilities, stronger project management, tighter logistics, more complex coordination, and we bring all of that experience back into the trade side, where it makes the biggest difference to our core customer base.

One of the most important things we’ ve kept intact over the years is our independence. We’ re not part of a large group or answerable to outside investors. We make our own decisions, and we do it based on what’ s best for our customers.