MAS support helps Warrior open new doors as turnov...

Protecting social housing, high value goods and the UK’s money has helped a Birmingham manufacturer double turnover and create ten new jobs.

Warrior Doors, which designs, produces and installs a range of high security stainless steel, aluminium and fully glazed doors, is on course to hit £2.5m of sales this year after its rebranding and revamped website helped it diversify into a host of new markets, including high-end retailers and jewellers.

Backed by support from the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), the company has also been able to fund vital testing that has seen it secure the prestigious Loss Prevention Society 1175 RS Standard…one of only a few firms to achieve this quality mark and a major advantage when selling to Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) clients.

The growth has necessitated the need to double its capacity and the firm is currently in the process of relocating to a dedicated 18,000 sq ft manufacturing facility and showroom on the Kings Road Industrial Estate.

Brett Barratt, Managing Director, explained: “Our core market has traditionally been in designing bespoke door solutions for social housing associations across the country and we currently work in over 20 different local authority areas.

“In recent years, we’ve noticed that customers in other markets have been keen to strengthen their security and we’ve successfully completed projects for jewellers, banks, bullion dealers and government bodies looking to protect Critical National Infrastructure (CNI).”

He continued: “We’ve come a long way from when we first started. New orders are being placed each week, including a substantial contract with Solihull Community Housing.

“This meant we’d reached capacity at our existing site and needed to start planning for a move to a new facility that offered us more space and an improved layout…the Kings Road location being the ideal new home for us.

“We should be fully moved in by the end of March and, as part of the £1m total investment, we are also installing a state-of-the-art tube cutting laser, extra assembly jigs and a new powder coating plant.”

Warrior Doors’ team of skilled engineers work with architects and planners to ensure the aesthetic look of the door complements what many believe are the strongest doors currently available in the UK.

The company, which secured £200,000 of Regional Growth Funding and Business Development Programme support to help with the move, is settings its sights on maximising the LPS1175 RS accreditation and its listing in the prestigious ‘Red Book Live’, the key directory for tested security products in the UK.

“This has created a lot of interest in our products and proves that our doors can withstand even the most professional and fiercest of attacks,” added Brett.

He went on to add: “We’ve already landed in excess of £300,000 of contracts supplying bespoke security doors for high end retailers and jewellers, not to mention an on-going relationship with a major cash handling company.

“Recent CCTV footage we received shows exactly how strong our products are with one jeweller subjected to three different raids featuring sledgehammers, armed robbers and a 20-man attack during the riots of 2012.”

The Manufacturing Advisory Service has been working with Warrior Doors for more than three years, providing strategic advice on business growth, lean production and testing.

Maxine Chapman, MAS Advisor, said: “The company’s products were always first class, but the management team could sometimes be accused of being too hands on.

“Working with Growth Accelerator Coach Gary Mather we have been able to take a more strategic look at the business and what needed to be done to ensure it managed its growth effectively.”

She continued: “This has involved the development of a new sales and marketing plan, the rebrand and diversification into new markets, such as CNI and high-end retailers. We’ve also managed to recruit some key members of staff that has given Brett more time to focus on the things that really matter.

“The results have been fantastic. Sales have more than doubled in two years, ten new jobs have taken the workforce up to 25 and the relocation provides the platform the company needs to grow for years to come.”