A Barber and Son

The Building Experience are delighted to profile A Barbers and Sons, one of the most well established and longest running building companies in Essex.

Trade: Building Contractors and Joiners

Unique Selling Point: Family Builders since 1928 

Typical Works Performed: All aspects of building and joinery, from new builds, to extensions, rennovations, refurbishments, conversions and any other smaller projects.

Your Name: Toby Lewis

Your Role/Position: Employee

Trading Area: Essex

Number of years Trading: 80. Founded by Alfred Barber in 1928. Now run by his grandsons Keith and Terence Lewis

Number of Employees: 6, plus subcontractors

Biggest challenge facing your company/industry: The industry is entering an interesting time and could be seriously affected by the world financial problems.

Funniest moment: A few years back one of my colleagues and I heard a girls screams coming from the house next door to the one we were working on. We went to investigate and found a rather large women stuck in an upstairs window. After locking herslf out she had climbed a ladder and managed to get her sholders through the window but her bottom had got stuck. Obviously we helped her out.

How you advertise/market the business: We have a website and have tried flyers but most of our work comes from word of mouth and existing customers. 

What sets your company apart: All our work is carried out to the highest standards in a courteous and gentlemanly fashion, paying particular attention to customer satisfaction and tidiness throughout.

Anything else: Our office, workshop and yard are located right in the hub of the town centre of Colchester

A Woman's Touch

The Building Experience are delighted to profile A Woman's Touch, the multi award winning Building and Property Maintenance company. Run exclusively by women, and with many female tradespeople, the team pride themselves on their professional service and attention to detail. From a basement conversion, loft or extension, through to kitchen and bathroom refurbs, and even hotel and restaurant renovations, the team offer an unrivalled service.

Trade: Building & Refurbishment

Unique Selling Point: 1) Lots of tradeswomen, 2) Businesslike (keep appointments, stick to deadlines and budgets etc) 3) We’ve won several awards

Typical works performed: Lofts, extensions, basements, kitchen and bathroom refurbs

Your Name: Kerrie Keeling

Your Role/Position: Managing Director

Trading Area: London , Brighton, Cambridge , Manchester , Bristol , Southern Spain

Number of years Trading: 5

Number of Employees: 11 (and 50 subbies)

Perks of the job: Being my own boss – making exciting decisions

Downsides of the job: Not as well paid as investment banking was!

Biggest challenge facing your company/industry: Finding enough well qualified and experienced tradeswomen to keep up with the demand from our clients

Funniest moment: Meeting Gordon Ramsay when working on one of his restaurants – and him saying he was going to use an F word about our work – luckily it was Fantastic!

Scariest moment: Meeting the Queen at Buckingham Palace – at a reception for women in business.

How you advertise/market the business: Word of mouth, logos on our vans, T-shirts, banners on scaffolds etc

What sets your company apart: Our high quality of customer service and our attention to detail, on the admin and the actual trades work.

Anything else: Oh, and we’re women!

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