A TEES Valley construction firm celebrates its 25th anniversary today as it continues to buck the boom and bust trend in the industry.
J & RM Richardson of Darlington was launched after managing director John Richardson and his wife Ruth claimed £80 enterprise allowance payments from the Manpower Services Commission. The business now turns over £3m a year; employs 30 workers, and has become a trusted supplier to dozens of businesses across the region.
Its first contract was a £110,000 extension for Aycliffe-based Tolwood Multifasteners, and the firm moved into its current headquarters in Portland Place, Darlington after converting a building originally constructed as a gentlemen's club and later used as a church.
Repeat business from the likes of Hashimoto Ltd in Boldon, Teesside Transport and Training in Middlesbrough, North-East Property Holdings, 3M in Newton Aycliffe, and NSK Bearings of Peterlee has filled Richardson's order book, while rivals have fallen victim to the recession.
Mr Richardson reckons the firm's enduring success has been built on solid business principles. "There is no magic formula," he explained. "We meet clients face-to-face, so right from the start people can be sure that they are speaking to the decision-makers. We have concentrated on winning contracts locally rather than being tempted to over-stretch ourselves and our staff are loyal, and second to none. Once we take staff on they never leave, so we must be doing something right."
According to Mr Richardson, spurning the temptation to recruit a large permanent workforce has been crucial to the company maintaining quality control and flexibility. Malcolm Waites, plant engineer at NSK has been dealing with Richardson's since it was established. "Good companies are all about good people, and John is as decent a person as you can work with. He is plain-speaking, honest and trustworthy. John is the kind of man who, when he has over-quoted on a job, has paid us the money back, not many people in this industry will do that," said Mr Waites.
Over the years the company has won acclaim such as Master Builder of the Year and the Gold Award from Darlington Borough Council Considerate Contractor Scheme.
Its landmark projects in Darlington include the Northgate Vehicle Hire headquarters, which was opened by Tony Blair, and the recent refurbishment of the NHS Regional Records Office.
Mr Richardson, 71, began his career as an apprentice joiner at the age of 15, and he later pioneered developments on the Isle of Dogs, London.
After a quarter of a centrity at the helm he is showing no signs of winding down. "The workload at the moment is phenomenal, we've had three new enquiries in the last week. We just keep going, as we always have."
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