Traditional Structures rebuilding is on target

Traditional Structures managing director Phil Hadley said his business was already recruiting and was on course to increase annual turnover to £10 million – above pre-recession levels – within two years.

Mr Hadley, who started the Cheslyn Hay business 26 years ago, said that a lot of the transformation in its fortunes was down to taking steps to ensure that all its output was CE marked to comply with new regulations which came into effect at the beginning of July.

"We achieved CE accreditation in December, but a lot of other companies in our industry have ignored this requirement," he said.

The new legislation is to ensure that all steelwork used in manufacturing meets the required standard and suppliers have to have certificates to cover production, welding and performance standards.

"I am amazed that some businesses have ignored this. It means steelwork cannot be delivered to a site and erected unless it has CE marking.

"All of the main contractors are now requiring it and it has means tour order book has increased," explained Mr Hadley. He said insurance companies were also pressing construction businesses to make sure all the steel they used was properly marked because otherwise their insurance on projects could be null and void.

Traditional Structures, who have been members of the British Constructional Steelwork Association for more than 20 years, started off in a unit in Norton canes in 1988 as a two-man operation and the company has been based at the Findel Works, Landywood Lane, for the past 16 years.

The 1.5-acres site includes a 35,000 sq ft triple-span factory with offices.

Traditional Structures is able to handle projects up to a maximum of £1.5 million and 400 tonnes of steel.

"We offer a full design, fabrication, supply and erection service," said Mr Hadley.

The company, which employs 35 at present, offers design solutions to principal contractors, end users, architects and engineers.

Among its lists of customers are many major construction businesses including Carillion, Galliford Try, Morgan Sindall, Kier and Willmott Dixon.

Projects that it works on all over the country include schools, hospitals, government buildings and high-rise buildings.

Mr Hadley said that the pick up in the construction industry had already seen turnover rise to £5m for the last financial year.

"We have been re-building from a high of £9m before the recession.

"We are recruiting and are looking to take on five to six people in the next three to six months," he added.

The company is also taking on three apprentices. A general office apprentice starts on August 1 and two computer aided design apprentices in the drawing office on September 1.

Mr Hadley said that the company was now also offering 'bolt on packages' to its customers.

"As well as delivering and erecting the steel frame we can also put in steel decking and install pre-cast concrete floor and stairs.

"We also supply and install all types of industrial cladding systems including Kalzip, a specialist roof cladding system, and Kingspan products including roof and wall cladding," said Mr Hadley.

Traditional Structures was recently highly praised by client Willmott Dixon for the quality of work on two projects including Arley Primary School in Warwickshire where steel erection was completed ahead of programme.