Constructing a future from firm's closure

Oct 14 2009 by Iain Laing, The Journal

WHEN colleagues Dianne Hitchen, Tracey Bulley and Kevin Guffick learnt that the construction company they worked for was to cease trading, they decided to grab the opportunity to set up their own business.

Less than a year later, Hartlepool-based Absolute Interiors Commercial – which specialises in shop fitting and joinery for the commercial sector – is going from strength to strength.

The company is scooping major contracts across the UK, expanding into new premises, creating jobs and has already hit the turnover target it set for the end of its second year.

The partners, with their 17-strong direct labour team, are fitting offices, hospitals, stores and hotels across the country, from a conference centre at Newton Aycliffe to office developments in London and the refurbishment of Wilkinsons stores nationwide.

The firm began working from Ms Hitchen’s home and Absolute Interiors is now based in the Hartlepool Business Centre, with a manufacturing facility nearby – but already needs to double its space and is merging the two together in a new unit.

The firm has taken on four joiners in the last month and says another 10 to 12 jobs will be created with the move to new larger premises, where the company will continue to manufacture all its own fittings.

“We are now aiming for a £1.5m turnover by the end of our second year,” said Ms Hitchen, “and are very pleased with our progress so far. This is a very competitive market but we were confident that the three of us have the right combination of skills and experience.”

The company has also achieved Investors in People status and ISO 9001:2008 in record time.

The partners’ planning and commitment to their workforce and training has won praise from Alison Davies, senior business solutions manager for Investors in People North East.

She said: “We were very impressed that IIP was written into the business plan for Absolute Interiors before it even started trading.”

And she added: “It is obvious that they are not going to rest on their IIP laurels either as they have already completed our Internal Champions training as well.”