Carlisle Brass is a global business with an annual turnover in excess of £50m, supplying architectural ironmongery to iconic buildings throughout the world.

But despite its success and growth in recent years, managing director Angus Grant says much of his work at present is focused on doing the simple things well.

“For us it’s very much about getting the basics right,” said Angus, who took over as managing director of the firm last spring.

Carlisle Brass, based at Parkhouse Road, is the UK’s largest specialised developer of residential door and window furniture, specified by all top 10 UK housebuilders.

Prior to taking on the managing director role, Angus – who has been at the firm for 13 years – was responsible for export at the company’s manufacturing facility in Hangzhou, China, before moving to Dubai in 2008 to found Carlisle Brass in the Middle East.

Carlisle Brass products feature in some of the Gulf’s most prestigious projects such as the Yas Hotel, which bridges over the Abu Dhabi F1 circuit, and the World Trade Centre in Doha.

He moved back to Carlisle in 2015, originally working as the company’s head of business development.

“One focus for us is customer service excellence,” said Angus.

“I’ve spent a lot of time with customers thinking about making sure that we remember the basics of providing a great service.”

This year, Carlisle Brass has engaged leading consultant Mark Robb to spend four days working with staff around how to provide and maintain industry-leading service.

“His big message is that engaged, happy employees are likely to be excited about our customers, and in turn, provide far better service. And that’s something I really believe in ,” Angus added.

“It’s very important for me and our leaders to focus on our people, their wellbeing and engagement so they feel it is worthwhile in the first place. If you build your people, your people will build your business.”

He said the company was doing this through things such as giving people free fruit twice a week, organising a summertime social or helping people through training or diplomas.

A big part of its work around well-being also involved encouraging its 130 employees to take part in sport and activity.

Activities in 2018 included the Sport Relief Billion Step Challenge, the Eden Valley Hospice Colour Run, and an annual sponsored walk along Hadrian’s Wall.

All of this helped Carlisle Brass win the Cumbria Sports Awards Active Workplace Category in November.

Angus said the company also made sure managers within different parts of the business worked together on two projects outside their normal roles throughout the year to encourage collaboration.

Carlisle Brass has 12 staff who have gained Registered Architectural Ironmonger status, with continued professional development training taking place at the company’s premises.

Looking forward, Angus said the company was well prepared to weather any potential fallout from the UK’s exit from the European Union.

“Brexit is an unknown, but for us it’s a matter of business as usual,” he adds.

“We continue to focus on our sales and operations planning to ensure we fulfil our order commitments and are in the best position we can be to react to any changes in demand, whatever those may be.”

The company – which sources 90 per cent of its goods from overseas – has been building up its stock to make sure it is well supplied ahead of March 29 and any potential interruption of supply.

  • This interview appears in this month’s edition of in-Cumbria. To subscribe to the free monthly magazine, click here