JCW: Taking the floor

By Lancashire Business View

12 Dec 2018

jcw-flooring-500x250.jpg
Visitors enjoying their retail therapy trip to the Trafford Centre or Liverpool One are unlikely to have heard of the JCW Group. But the business, set up 25 years ago in a Bolton lock-up, has played its part in the creation of shopping destinations like these, and many others across the UK.

The JCW Group of companies provides a range of specialist products and services to the building and construction sector.

The business has made a strong name for itself over the last 25 years for its expertise in floor screeding.

Screed is used in construction to level out a concrete sub base. It’s an important but little-known part of the construction process.

It provides a smooth and even finish that is required for laying flooring. It can be used to cover insulation or underfloor heating pipes, offering a thermally efficient solution.

John Wilkins set up the business a quarter of a century ago. Then its workforce consisted of him and a couple of colleagues.

Today, based in impressive headquarters at the Waters Meeting development in Bolton that it moved into a decade ago, the group employs 90 people and has a £12.5m turnover.

John is still at the helm as managing director, running the operation with fellow director John White and his management team.

The company has also expanded its areas of operation to include separate divisions specialising in acoustic flooring and acoustic specialist supplies.

However, it is fair to say that JCW is best known for its screeding operation. As well as The Trafford Centre and Liverpool One the business has worked on many more high-profile and hugely successful retail and leisure developments.

They include the Printworks and the Arndale centre in Manchester, the Ocean Terminal shopping centre in Leith where HMS Britannia is moored and the Bullring in Birmingham.

Other highlights include a £1.5m contract to work on the Westfield White City centre in West London and its input into the St Pancras station redevelopment in London. The JCW team is currently working on London Bridge train station.

Little wonder that founder and managing director John Wilkins has a sense of satisfaction when he looks back at the journey he and his company have travelled.

He made the decision to go it alone and set up his own business after spending seven years working for another company in the sector. Before that he was a quantity surveyor.

The 62-year-old says: “When I started it was just me and two or three guys that I knew. You want to achieve something and I’m pleased with what we have now.”

Over the 25 years John has seen the good and bad times in the construction industry, including the recession of a decade ago.

He says: “It’s a cyclical business with ups and down, you have to make money at the top of the curve. The secret to success is keeping the balance sheet strong.”

JCW’s clients include major developers, shop fitters and property developers.

John says: “We are a nationwide company with strong North West roots. We work all over Lancashire and all of our companies have built a strong brand name for themselves in the industry. That is something we have worked really hard at.”

A big part of that success comes from having “a loyal staff”. Many of the team at JCW have worked with John from the early days of the business’ development.

That is another source of satisfaction for him as he looks back. He says: “I do feel a sense of achievement in that.

“There are a lot of people who have worked here a long time. We look after our people and in return we get their loyalty. It is seen as a cliché but it is true; you are only as good as your staff.”

Looking towards the future, John says: “I’d like to see continued growth in all the companies in the group. We’re taking a steady approach. The business has a solid feel to it and that is important moving forward.”

It is seen as a cliché but it is true; you are only as good as your staff

Celebrating 25 years

1993: John C Wilkins Floor Screeding Contractors Limited is incorporated in November

1998: Installed the floor screed in Selfridges at the then under construction Trafford Centre. Also installed the screed in the remaining 80 per cent of the development

1999: Converted a former Welsh Methodist church in Bolton town centre into offices and moved into these premises from the business’ original base in Derbyshire Street, Bolton

2000: Worked on the Hard Rock Café in Manchester and restaurants at the then under construction Printworks. Worked on a large extension of the Overgate Shopping Centre in Dundee

2001: Carried out the floor screeding works on the Timber Wharf Development in central Manchester for Urban Splash Also worked on the new Ocean Terminal shopping Centre in Leith where HMS Britannia is moored

2002: Worked on the redevelopment of Piccadilly station in Manchester

2003: Installed the screed for the new Harvey Nichols store in Manchester. Worked on Jubilee Place Shopping Centre at Canary Wharf and the redevelopment of the Bullring Shopping Centre in Birmingham

2004: John C Wilkins Acoustic Supplies Limited is incorporated. Worked on Chapel Fields shopping Centre in Norwich and The Met Quarter centre in Liverpool

2006: Worked on the redevelopment of Manchester Arndale

2008: Moved both companies to the present location at Waters Meeting Development in Bolton. Carried out all the screeding works at the Liverpool One development and a £1.5m contract on the new Westfield White City centre in West London

2009: Worked on Union Square Shopping Centre, Aberdeen

2010: Worked on the redevelopment of The Rock Shopping Centre in Bury

2011: Worked on the new Media City development at Salford Quays

2012: Screed and supplies businesses were re-branded to JCW. A third company, JCW Acoustic Flooring, was incorporated. Worked on a retail development at St Pancras in London. Carried out works on extension of Manchester United training facility in Carrington

2013: Installed the screed for the retail development which forms part of the new Wembley station

2015: Worked on the new Surf Snowdonia attraction in Snowdonia National Park. Installed screed in Birmingham New Street station

2017: Carried out screeding works on Phase 2 of Westfield White City Shopping Centre in West London

2018: Currently working on London Bridge train station

Latest news

1

Chiptech announces major innovation initiative at high-profile reception with the New Zealand Prime Minister in London. The Rt Hon Jonathan Reynolds, the Rt Hon Christopher Luxon and the Rt Hon Steve Reed (L-R Front Row) David Hammond, and Daniel Knowles

Chiptech announces major innovation initiative at high-profile reception with the New Zealand Prime Minister in London.

30 Apr 2025

2

Northstone secures full planning permission for 50 new homes in Edenfield Edenfield housing development

Northstone secures full planning permission for 50 new homes in Edenfield

29 Apr 2025

3

Ring Stones Maintenance and Construction celebrates completion of Dovestone Gardens Dovestone Gardens launch

Ring Stones Maintenance and Construction celebrates completion of Dovestone Gardens

29 Apr 2025

4

PHX Training welcomes new business leader to drive learner success Louise Kirby

PHX Training welcomes new business leader to drive learner success

29 Apr 2025

5

Lidl to invest half a billion pounds in its expansion as it eyes sites in Lancashire Lidl

Lidl to invest half a billion pounds in its expansion as it eyes sites in Lancashire

29 Apr 2025

Pc Prestonmacan Gif980x120 March
Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV122 May/June Launch Event
121 Lancashire Business View Magazine Launch
Networking
21 May 2025

LBV122 May/June Launch Event

Lancaster and Morecambe College, Lancaster, LA1 2TY

08:30 - 10:30

Sub36 Networking
Networking
11 Jun 2025

Sub36 Networking

British Jewellery School, Scorton, PR3 1BA

15:00 - 17:00

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference
Net Zero Carbon Social 1200px 2
Networking
18 Jun 2025

Lancashire Net Zero Carbon Conference

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:00

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes
Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes for website.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
01 May 2025 - 01 May 2025

Planning for the future + navigating Inheritance Tax changes

Stanley House Hotel, Mellor, Blackburn, BB2 7NP, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

08:00 - 10:30

A night at the races
1.png.png
LBV Hub Dinners / Balls
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

A night at the races

Morecambe FC, Morecambe, LA4 4TB

19:00 - 23:59

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 2
EV-land-2025-05B.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
02 May 2025 - 02 May 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – May 2

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Manchester Road, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

Innovating business solutions through PhD Partnerships
30478 Skills Bootcamp open day setting.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
07 May 2025 - 07 May 2025

Innovating business solutions through PhD Partnerships

University of Central Lancashire, Preston , PR1 2HE

14:30 - 15:30

Celebrating 50 years of KTP
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
07 May 2025 - 07 May 2025

Celebrating 50 years of KTP

University of Central Lancashire , Preston, PR1 2HE

16:00 - 18:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more Lbv121 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin