MAKING MOVES AND TAKING STOCK
As 2024 gathers pace the team at Cotswold Decorative Ironworkers are getting busy in the build up to making the highly anticipated move to a brand-new workshop at a new location.
The project, started in the final quarter of 2023, is nearing its final stages, and having completed the major building and landscaping works, attention has turned to the interior fit out and finishing touches. “As the business has grown over the past 25 years at Marsh Farm we have created work spaces where needed, and increased our footprint where possible, then filled every other available corner with stock and materials” explains Founder and Director Hughie Powell, “The process of now taking the workshops and moving them wholesale to the new location is no mean feat, finding the most efficient way to work in the new space is something that will no doubt take a bit of time and some trial and error, but we’re keen for it to be a team effort so the guys in the workshop are part of the process.
On the logistics of the move, Contracts Manager Pete Boulton says, “The physical process of the move is going to be challenging, but at least the distance isn’t “The new workshop is just 7 miles away on the outskirts of the Cotswolds market town of Chipping Norton. Pete continues “The location is a real find, not only are we in an even better position, with quicker access to main travel routes and local amenities, but its somewhere that retains a lot of the countryside charm that’s made working from Marsh Farm so appealing.”
As part to the move, the workshop team have been undertaking a larger than normal stock take, with the goal of both working out with does and doesn’t need to make the move, as well as leaving the current buildings free of clutter and ready for future projects. An unexpected part of the process has been re-discovering many elements of the companies roots in decorative metalwork. Casting patterns, decorative mouldings, and reclaimed ironwork, are just some of the things that have been processed and streamlined ahead of the move.
Summarising the re-location Director Denise says, “This new workshop and location will give us the best opportunity to further build and expand the business and grow our position in the market, as competition grows, we must remain committed to progressing how we work, and the space and facilities the move enables are the best way to achieve this.”
Away from the move, there has been some further progression within the teams at CDI, Contracts Manger Pete Boulton has taken up a more office-based role, with the bulk of the companies site visits and surveys now being carried out but one of their lead fitters Caleb Shephard. On the change, Pete explains “It’s been 9 years since I took over the site visits from Hughie, and as much as I’ve loved the travel and meeting new and existing clients daily, wanting to take a more active role in the day to day running of the business means I can’t be on the road 4 days a week”.
He continues “Caleb joined us in 2020 as a fitter, and quickly progressed to be one of our team leaders, being a key part of a lot of our major fitting projects of the last few years. I’m confident he has the skills and knowledge to take on this new role.”
Caleb had this to say after his first few months “It’s an interesting new role, and one that I am really enjoying getting stuck into, as the weather improves we are getting more and more site visits in, so I’m on the road a lot. Stepping into the role had been discussed for a while, so I’m glad to be getting stuck in!”
Out in the field, it has been a long, wet winter and like many other fencing firms CDI have not been immune to the struggles that caused. With many customers building and landscaping projects affected by the weather the fitting teams found themselves with more time than usual on their hands. Time that was spent improving and progressing site specific qualifications. Four team leaders have gained site supervisor accreditation, and 3 more fitters have gained building site access accreditation, this is on top of the whole firms yearly re-fresher courses in health and safety and best practices, maintaining the commitment to safe working and progressing the skills of the teams. With the weather improving and the daylight hours growing, it will soon be full steam ahead fulfilling the supply only and fitting orders starting to flow in. “Tree Guards and Deer Fencing are two particular areas that have seen a lot of interest at the end of 2023 and start of 2024. We have already sent out over 200 Estate style guards, and we have received orders for over 2000 Metres of 1.8m High Deer Park Fencing.” Says, Hughie Powell, “Our commitment to keeping a good stock of all our products means we are able to fulfil large orders on tight timelines, just recently confirming an order for over 20 of our Galvanised Estate style pedestrian gates that are needed within two weeks.
Cotswold Decorative Ironworkers office team are on hand 8am-5pm Monday to Friday, visit the website www.cdis.uk, email to enquiries@cd-ironworkers.co.uk or call on 01608 685134 to utilise their years of experience for your next fencing or gates project.
