Anniversary order boost for metalwork specialist
A Wearside-based metalwork business is celebrating a landmark tenth anniversary, after landing one of its biggest projects to date.
Independent metalwork engineers Taylorhood Metalworks specialises in the production of hand-crafted bespoke staircases, architectural balustrades and feature metal work.
Founded in 2010, the Washington-based company has grown rapidly over the decade, employing 17 staff and working on some of the UK’s highest profile developments – from London’s 5-star Lanesborough Hotel to Winston Churchill’s War Office and Birmingham’s Resorts World.
Despite its tenth anniversary celebrations grinding to a halt due to the pandemic, the company is celebrating landing one of its largest projects to date.
Taylorhood has landed a lucrative six-figure to tailor bespoke staircases for the £3.1bn Mandarin Oriental Hotel development – an historic 19th century hotel facing Knightsbridge and Hyde Park.
Chris Taylor, co-founder and managing director of Taylorhood Metalworks, said: “We were quite worried when the pandemic hit as we had over £500,000 worth of projects ongoing at the time.
“Fortunately, due to the nature of our work, the products we produce are incredibly niche and as soon as lockdown measures were eased, we were able to pick up where we left off.
"Fingers crossed, things look as though they’re starting to get back on track.
“In fact, over the past nine weeks or so we’ve quoted for over £1m worth of work.
"Our staff have been fantastic, while we may not be able to have the huge party we’d hoped for to celebrate our tenth anniversary, at least we know we’ve all played apart in getting through this crisis together.”
Cllr Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “Ten years in business is no small feat for any company and the resilience shown by Chris and the team to bounce back from the lockdown shows just how much determination and mettle they have.
“They can take great pride in reaching a decade in business and continue to go from strength-to-strength.”