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

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!