10th anniversary: Anderton Gables

Building on the right values

Ask director Jonathan Shaw the secret of Anderton Gables’ success over the last decade and he’ll tell you: “We’re a small, large company.”

By having that outlook on business the Preston-based Project and Building Consultancy has built up a formidable reputation since it began life a decade ago.

Jonathan, who founded the business with fellow director Andrew Whittle, puts a lot of its success down to the culture and values posted on the walls of its office for everyone to see.

The first declares: “We have fun. We believe fun does not stand in the way of professionalism – we are at our best when enjoying what we do.”

Others talk about team work, striving to be great communicators and going the extra mile for clients. It’s all about having a ‘can do’ attitude, explains Jonathan.

Another of the values on the wall stresses: “We build relationships. We think of clients as more than clients. We identify with the person and how they like to do business, addressing their individual concerns and achieving their goals.

“We identify that we will grow by developing new relationships and don’t take existing relationships for granted.”

It’s an approach that works for the business, which has an additional office in Manchester and recently expanded into Yorkshire.

It now employs a 20-strong workforce of Building Surveyors, Project Managers and Quantity Surveyors and has turnover in the £1.5m region. A move to new offices not far from its present base on Winckley Street is also on the horizon.

Anderton Gables has a range of big name clients on its books, including wellknown high street names BetFred and Travis Perkins. Other key clients include Bodycare, Manchester Airports Group and Boohoo.com.

This is a business that doesn’t stand still, and hasn’t since day one when AG began life in Bamber Bridge back in 2007.

A major rebranding exercise has just been completed and the company is at the start of a new three year business plan that will see it double in both size and turnover.

Jonathan, 47, who grew up in Longridge, says: “We’ve a huge range of clients, including commercial property owners, occupiers and developers.

“Current projects include 200 unit new build housing schemes and office refurbishments nationally.

“Repeat business is key to us and that is where our relationship building is so important.

“The core values we have developed aren’t just for putting up on the wall, we really live them and our clients can see that. That ‘can do’ attitude is really important to us.

“We’re always looking at what the client actually needs and we can help provide clarity for them. As it says on the wall, we really are dogged in looking for creative solutions for them.”

The business is also constantly pursuing growth, reviewing its marketplace to identify areas where it can help both existing and potential clients.

Jonathan adds: “We want to be the best building consultancy we can be and that means not only looking after our customers but our staff as well. For that reason we have a well-being consultant. Again it’s something that’s really important to us.”

Returning to the theme of a “small large company”, Jonathan explains: “We like to think we bring all the savvy of the big city firms and the national practitioners to our marketplace.

“It’s a buoyant time to be based in Lancashire and to be part of the growth that we’re seeing. There’s so much going on, with the City Deal and the universities, not to mention local employers.

“Lancashire is where we want to be doing business. This is our ‘patch’ and we just love being here.” Jonathan adds: “There’s so much energy and it really is a heck of a place.”

2007

• Jonathan knocked on Andrew’s door and asked if he wanted to start a business.
• First office was in Bamber Bridge. They knocked a doorway through a wall between two offices to make it into one

2008

• Recession hit – AG survive due to low overheads and relentless drive!
• Appointed by Screwfix to undertake Trade Counter Roll Outs – Project Management Role

2009

• Appointed by First Investments Real Estate Management as Dilapidations Consultant – become Key Client

2010

• Appointed by Trinity Hospice to design and specify the major refurbishment and remodelling of the In-Patients Unit and Brian House Children’s Unit – become Key Client

2011

• Appointed First Member of Staff – Graduate Building Surveyor Daniel March

2012

• Move to City Centre Business Hub area – Winckley Street

2013

• Appointed by Boohoo. com as Project Manager of Warehouse Refurbishment – become Key Client
• Appointed by BetFred to provide Dilapidations Defences – become Key Client

2014

• Stuart Carter appointed as Associate Director
• AG gain ISO 9001 + ISO 14001 Certification
• Appointed by Travis Perkins to provide Technical Due Diligence and Dilapidations advice across the North of England

2015

• Red Rose Award Winner for Property Business of the Year Award
• Appointed by UCLan – Demolition of Fylde Building
• Appointed by BAE as Cost Consultants
• Open Manchester office on Deansgate
• Appoint 4 new members of staff

2016

• Appoint Kim Tasso as Non-Executive Director
• Appointed on Innovation Chain North West Framework (ICNW)
• Appointed by Trafford Housing Trust as Employers Agent on 200 house new build scheme
• Relocate Manchester office to Salford Quays
• Appoint 4 new members of staff

2017

• AG team up with Advantage Wellbeing to promote a happy and healthy workforce.
• Appointed as Employers Agent for JV North Framework
• AG announce promotions of William Rogers, Tom Hargreaves and John MacMillan to Associate Directors
• Brand refresh to reflect culture and values
• Appoint 6 new members of staff
• Open Yorkshire office