20 years of precision manufacturing. 20 years delivering high-quality fabrication solutions. 20 years of building something we’re truly proud of.
For two decades, our family-run business has been manufacturing aluminium products to the highest standards, and that’s just counting the years since BTS began, not the decades of combined experience behind our team.
Take our MD, Phil – he’s been steering the BTS ship for 17 years, but his journey in the industry began at just 16. With over 40 years of hands-on experience, he’s worked his way up from the ground level, following in his own father’s footsteps.
So, when we say this industry runs in the family, we mean it. When you work with us on your rainscreen, facades, or bespoke fabrications, you’re tapping into generations of expertise and knowledge.
And while today we’re proud of our awards, facilities and large-scale projects, our journey began with humble beginnings, hard work and a determination to do things properly. So, as we celebrate 20 years of BTS, we’re taking a moment to look back at where it all began…
Humble beginnings
BTS was officially incorporated in 2006, starting out in a small Middlesbrough unit focused on fabrications. In 2007, we relocated to Spennymoor, and anyone who remembers those early days will know just how humble it really was.
No amenities. No windows. No space. Long hours. Midnight picnics on the factory floor. Our ‘kitchen’ was a makeshift bench with a fridge underneath and a kettle, with water borrowed from the mop sink in the toilets if you wanted a coffee. Those days were not for the fainthearted.
But the team’s determination, grit, and relentless drive paid off. Our reputation grew, and that hard work quickly translated into results: in 2009, turnover reached £375,000, and by 2012 it had soared to £3.3 million.
Taking the risk
Our rent had increased, and our facility bursting at the seams, so it was time to look for something bigger, and this time, we were determined to buy. The directors each contributed their pensions to fund the expansion in Aycliffe, all in the middle of a recession.
Our new unit in Aycliffe Business Park was certainly bigger but calling it ‘better’ would have been generous… it needed plenty of TLC. Still, we weren’t complaining – we finally had a canteen, extra space, and offices with windows, albeit ones that looked out onto storage racks and metal shutters.
As we were making a name for ourselves, our growing reputation came with responsibility. That’s why we developed our very own trademarked Vantage rainscreen solutions and put them through rigorous testing.
Around this time, we earned our first-ever CWCT certification, proving that our products weren’t just innovative, but also safe, reliable, and built to the highest standards.
Growth continued, and in 2014 we acquired an adjoining unit with the vision of creating our dream offices to showcase our finest work. By 2016, construction was finally underway on our state-of-the-art facility.
A new era
Finally, we had a space to be proud of, but it was time for a fresh look to match our growth and brand identity. We bade farewell to our old red-and-blue logo and welcomed a sleek gold-and-black design – a style our offices now proudly reflect.
With a fresh space and a bold new identity, we were ready for business. And business definitely came knocking. We landed our biggest contract to date: York Place in Battersea, and for our little family-run company, it felt huge. A real ‘pinch-us’ moment.
By 2018 our portfolio was growing nicely, and the projects were getting bigger. Which could only mean one thing… it was time to introduce automation: a top-of-the-range Salvagnini punch and new TRUMPF panel bender. New machinery, smarter processes, and better systems helped us streamline operations and guarantee precision, accuracy, and speed.
The pandemic
The pandemic may have been rife, but we followed strict procedures to ensure work could continue leaving the factory and keeping customers happy.
Despite the uncertainty, we had our bespoke Vantage range undergo fire testing in Ireland, a crucial step that demonstrated our strong commitment to producing safe, reliable cladding products.
And while the whole world stood still during lockdown, we were pushing forward and making big moves, after being named one of the North East’s quickest growing companies – not bad for mid-pandemic, ey?
Cultural shift
In 2022, we welcomed Nigel Freeman as our operations director. With his expertise in LEAN manufacturing, Nigel brought a fresh perspective to the business. Whereas our focus had previously been all about growth and turnover, we now recognised the importance of looking inward, ensuring our team felt valued, supported, and rewarded.
This shift in mindset sparked a broader vision: not just to make BTS an outstanding manufacturer, but also an exceptional employer and a positive force within our community.
From there, we pursued sustainability initiatives, aiming for carbon neutrality through offsetting and eco-conscious practices. We also strengthened our community engagement, supporting charities through our annual golf day and fundraising.
Internally, we prioritised team wellbeing by introducing a forum (representatives from every part of the business who bring forward feedback). Thanks to their input, we were proud to implement a four-day work week, marking a significant step in creating a workplace where people truly thrive.
With that, we decided it was time to start celebrating our successes and began applying for – and winning – awards. Our journey began locally, securing an engineering and manufacturing accolade at our business park’s Make Your Mark Awards. From there, we built on that success, earning national recognition for our sustainability efforts and later taking top honours in our sector’s Façade Awards for refurbishment projects, including Will Wyatt and Greetham Street.
Looking ahead
Many businesses are facing challenges in today’s tough economic climate, but we’re focused on adapting, overcoming, and doing what we do best: delivering our customers an outstanding experience and exceptional products.
We’re determined to be here in another 20 years, celebrating nearly half a century of manufacturing. Having come this far and weathered challenges before, we know exactly what it takes to succeed.
