Tilley is raising the roof after takeover

ROOFING specialist DW Tilley has reported a 55% rise in turnover – 18 months after taking over a collapsed rival.

The Ponteland company, launched 25 years ago by managing director David Tilley, says it has generated sales of £14m, up from £8m when it took over failed Four Seasons Roofing .

DW Tilley, which has also created 25 jobs since the acquisition, says it has exceeded the 40% growth target it set after promoting the former middle management team up the company.

Having already opened offices in Leeds and Cardiff, it now has aspirations to expand further into the south of England. Four Seasons, which is based in Manchester and now carries the Tilley name, went into administration in February last year – leaving 50 staff wondering if a buyer could be found to save their jobs.

Managing director David Tilley said: “I think we have delivered the 55% increase because I got rid of the Four Seasons directors and promoted staff up to middle management who weren’t allowed to reach their full potential under the previous regime.

“Talented middle managers were moved up to branch managers and are allowed to run them as their own and they have performed better than expectations.

“With the company becoming the size it has, we are now the major player in industrial roofing in the UK, with the largest coverage of sites and offices.

“A lot of the bigger, blue chip companies are now looking at us because we have a greater presence where previously we were just thought of as a North-East company that did work in the North of England.”

The enlarged business now has offices in Scotland, Leeds, Warrington, Manchester, Walsall, Southampton and its Ponteland HQ. Its clients include a wide range of industrial and commercial outfits, as well as local authorities.

The firm – in business in its current form since 1982 – employs 40 staff at its Ponteland head office.

Mr Tilley said: “The business plan going forward is to expand our market share in the South-East and the South-West and I would expect us to open new offices in those areas in the next two years.

“We increased the turnover to £14m with the acquisition and are on target to achieve that again this year.”