It’s celebration time at Eden Facades. As we raise a glass to 10 successful years, we’ve looked back at how it all began and how we became the company we are today. We also look ahead to see what the future might hold for us.
Celebrating 10 years of Eden Facades
When Tony met Paul
We may have started out as a domestic rendering service in 2011, but the connection between our directors Tony Hill and Paul Michaelson goes back much further than that.
Having first met whilst working for the same sub-contractor some 25 years ago; Tony and Paul decided to put ‘Plan B’ in place when the direction of that business changed, and ‘Plan B’ was Eden Facades.
Their differing skill sets and shared determination to see the project succeed has meant the business has gone from strength to strength.
Team and business growth
Starting small, the business in the early days largely came from existing contacts – now our reach extends right across the South-East. As Tony remembers: ‘In the early years I did all the estimating and surveying, as well as the accounts and what you might refer to as ‘running the business.’
With the business growing from smaller contracts and rendering to major projects, including collaborations with Premier Inn, Brighton and Hove Albion FC, Transport for London, leisure centres, educational establishments and residential properties, the team now includes HR and commercial, estimating, finance and project managers. ‘These days I manage managers,’ says Tony, ‘all of whom report to me on a weekly basis.’
The Eden Facades model
As Tony and Paul acknowledge, it can be easy for businesses to lose sight of who they were when they started, but we’ve very much tried to keep in mind the importance of staying true to our original philosophy. ‘There’s no room for complacency,’ comments Paul, ‘We’ve been very careful to build a knowledgeable team around us…which means that we can be sure we’re always delivering the high-standard work and attention to detail we’re known for.’
It’s a strategy that’s paying off. Last year we were voted Contractor of the Month by Berkeley Homes Central London for our work on the West End Gate site, and our involvement in a new-build school in Maidenhead saw us shortlisted for RCI magazine’s UK Facade Awards 2021 for ‘Best use of a timber-clad system’.
Looking ahead: A reputation to maintain in difficult times
We’ve been careful to build a reputation for quality and reliability over the years, something that we feel is key for us as we look to the future.
Like businesses in many sectors, we’ve faced our share of challenges during the pandemic, and we’ve had to adapt our working practices both in terms of health and safety on and off-site, whilst working around the substantial reduction in the availability of raw materials.
But, for us, challenge equals opportunity, and our approach has been to view these factors not as setbacks, but as a chance to look at new processes, to further embrace smart technology and to make more use of sustainable materials.
We also see deepening our relationships with supply chain and clients as vital in streamlining planning, reducing construction time and wastage, all of which results in a more sustainable construction industry for the future.
Looking ahead: Sustainability, the environment, and staff development
With the UK Green Building Council recently reporting that around 40% of the UK’s total carbon footprint is attributable to the built environment (construction, operation and maintenance), sustainability is something we always have in our sights. As Tony points out: ‘We’re committed to helping our clients reduce carbon emissions and regularly monitor our supply chain to ensure environmental improvements are made where possible’. He’s clear that one of our tasks as a team is to ensure we ‘understand the principles and importance of environmental legislation and identify the sometimes-simple measures that can be put in place to improve sustainability.’
Another key factor for us when we look to the future is investing in staff. A report on the impact of an ageing population in the UK from the Chartered Institute of Building found that there was a declining number of young people working in construction and we’ve been careful to invest in reversing this potential loss of skills and experience to the industry. One of the ways we do this is by taking on apprentices, and we’re keen to encourage them to make the most of their time with us: ‘Every job is different, with interesting challenges that mean I am constantly building my knowledge,’ says Mackenzie Stewart, one of three apprentices currently on our team.
Looking ahead: new projects
Following the uncertainty within the sector over the last couple of years, we have continued to grow, and this year we look forward to working with clients such as Morgan Sindall, Kier Construction and Weston Homes, to name a few.
We’re always pleased when we get the chance to work with new clients, but one of our proudest claims is that we’ve never lost an existing client. As Tony puts it: ‘Building strong relationships with clients and our supply chain is something we take great pride in, and these projects reflect our whole team’s commitment to doing the job right, first time.’
Here’s to the next 10 years!
To find out more about how we work with our clients, contact the office on 01268 744199 or office@edenfacades.co.uk