From sole trader to 16-strong team sees town base taken by builder
FIRM SPANS DOOR HANGING AND FLOOR FITTING TO £500K CONVERSIONS
AJOINER who has built up a multi-disciplinary building firm by responding to wider requests from his client base has launched in new premises to enable it to cope with strong growth.
Grimsby’s DMS was set up by sole trader Darren Smith in 1997.
He specialised in laminated flooring, but ‘worked up’ to skirting boards, kitchens and then extensions to accommodate all that was desired.
Barn conversions have followed, while plumbing was added to support the work, and is now thriving as a standalone service.
Now a prominent corner building on King Edward Street has been taken on, providing a central location with easy access across northern Lincolnshire.
“The last 18 months we have really grown, we’re up to a team of 16 now - yet for quite a few years it was me and one other,” he said. “I then started with an apprentice, when they came out of their trade they stayed, and it has just steadily grown.”
He now carries three joiners, three bricklayers and an apprentice, a ground worker, three plumbers and an apprentice, with a fleet of nine vans.
Office-based roles in accounts and estimations have been added to, with Paul Mason recently joining in a business development role, allowing Mr Smith to concentrate on touring the jobs - ensuring quality and efficiency.
“For us now, it is about managing what we have, maintaining it and growing,” Mr Smith said. “We have pipelines of work in place, and we feel we can manage the staff smoothly from a single location.
“What’s important to me is we can still hang a door or fit a floor, as that’s how I started. I always take the time to do the small jobs as it is often the route to the bigger projects.”
What’s important to me is we can still hang a door or fit a floor, as that’s how I started. I always take the time to do the small jobs as it is often the route to the bigger projects
Darren Smith