Pictured above: Lee Gillard the newly appointed Burton Branch Manager

Derbyshire based Midland Building Plastics are bucking the trend this year! Midland Building Plastics (MBP) specialises in providing a comprehensive range of building products to both the trade and public alike. 

Formed in 2005 by three entrepreneurs who identified a gap in the market, the company has gone from strength to strength, in what has been the worst trading conditions in recent memory. 

MBP had a phenomenal start to the year with the acquisition of Roof Fast UK, a Midlands based company that manufactures conservatory roofs and porches, situated on Wetherby Road, off Ascot Drive in Derby. MBP and Roof Fast had been trading successfully together for numerous years before the acquisition decision was reached. Both companies market synergies and it was realised that Roof Fast could expand much quicker via the MBP branch network. 

"We're very pleased with progress made so far by both companies, a strong ethos of working as a team and providing excellent customer service at a time when trade was at it's lowest has seen us through a difficult past 12 months" said Paul Brighouse, Managing Director. 

More recently, MBP have taken the bold decision to revamp their Burton branch, creating a better environment for their customers. Lee Gillard, the newly appointed Branch Manager at Burton commented, "We have tried to get more of our extensive product range on display, and created the one-stop-shop that the customers were crying out for." After 10 years in the industry, Lee brings a wealth of experience to MBP Burton, with extensive knowledge through 1st hand experience, on window fabrication, conservatory roof fabrication and on-site installation practices. Lee is well placed to drive the Burton branch forward and provide an unrivalled level of knowledge and customer service.

The Company ethos of listening to grass roots when planning future security has proved successful, involving the team in many of its business decisions. In particular MBP has listened closely to what the customer wants via its trade counter network, which resulted in the further introduction of an in-house drainage centre, skylights, significant stocks of lead and a comprehensive range of tooling. MBP also took a closer look at their service portfolio and expanded its services with a 24-hour ordering service, and free delivery. 

"The team are continuously working on developing our product ranges; we've already expanded our underground drainage range, alongside the introduction of flat roofing products at Burton and also added some further key building brands" said Lee.

The Burton branch re-vamp follows a phenomenal 22% growth rate for the company in an industry that saw a 8.5% reduction in growth in 2009 and was forecast a further 4% drop in 2010; showing it's most prolonged decline in nearly thirty years. Bucking this general trend of decline across the construction industry as a whole, Midland Building Plastics really is a local business success story. "We have achieved so much during what has been severe global recession, and as the Country works its way back to prosperity, we're working hard to reinvest and grow the company further to ensure it's continued success" added Mick Scales, Operations Manager.

With branches also operating in Derby and Lichfield, Midland Building Plastics have ambitious plans to open three more depots within the Midlands, each creating approximately 3 further jobs and steady growth for both MBP and Roof Fast. With Newark, Coventry and Chesterfield all targets for expansion the Company is well on its way to achieving its ambitious expansion plans ahead of schedule.