Scott Peden, Managing Director at TwoTwenty, discusses a “new dawn” for the bespoke timber stair manufacturer.
Incorporated in 2005, TwoTwenty is a bespoke timber staircase manufacturer headquartered in Derbyshire. The company has recently been sold to an employee ownership trust — believed to be a first for timber engineering companies in the UK — to provide long-term rewards and security for all employees.
PBM caught up with MD Scott Peden to talk about the company ethos, the challenges currently faced by the industry, and his future vision for TwoTwenty.
Q: So tell us more about TwoTwenty…
A: We have built an award-winning reputation in the design and manufacture of bespoke timber staircases for new build homes, conversions and renovations and we sell mostly through independent and national builders’ merchants, including all of the top 10 merchants in England. With a purpose-built factory and HQ in Foston, Derbyshire and another manufacturing centre in Kirby Lonsdale, Cumbria, we have supplied bespoke timber staircases to thousands of sites across the UK.
Recently, we announced our sale to an employee ownership trust (EOT) to allow the owners to leave the business in the future knowing that we have shown our appreciation for the fantastic team at TwoTwenty, some of whom have been with us from the start. It also allows us to offer a 10% pay rise to all employees and introduce a new scheme that facilitates a minimum of 22.5% higher pension contributions for each employee.
These commitments and this future opportunity will genuinely change the lives of our employees and their families.
Q: How does TwoTwenty support customers?
A: We don’t just make staircases; we aim to make life easier for builders and merchants. The moment a customer contacts us, we take full responsibility for the measurement, design, manufacture and delivery of all our stairs. No customer drawing sign-off is required on any project.
To ensure accurate measurements, we send one of our technical sales experts to the site to measure up. We can then provide an accurate quote, so our customers understand the financial cost of the project before any work has started. We also liaise with the homeowner on a merchant’s behalf, reducing the amount of communication and time the merchant takes on each project.
Designing the right staircase for the space is key. Our in-house design team provides customers with practical advice about materials and finishes to ensure our customers are happy with the final product. Our designers then create a design using CAD software and we always ensure the staircase exceeds BWF Stair Scheme guidelines to guarantee safety and quality.
Once the design is approved, our master craftspeople use CNC machines and sustainably sourced, FSC-certified timber to create the highest quality product. The team then packages up each component, ready for the fast on-site assembly.
We pride ourselves on getting our staircases to a site in the UK in half the industry standard lead time. If there are any issues with the staircase, we will replace parts at no extra cost, so customers and merchants are never out of pocket.
Q: What are some of the biggest issues the timber industry is facing in 2023?
A: Recruiting the right people and finding new talent is one of the major challenges facing the industry. This is the case across all roles, from joinery apprenticeships to office staff. The timber industry is also struggling to retain staff, especially younger generations because they are more willing to go and work in an office setting, rather than in a warehouse or colder manufacturing sites in roles that require more physical labour.
Skilled and passionate people can be encouraged to join the industry by educational establishments. They can help educate younger generations about the type of careers that are available to them in the timber industry. Colleges can also offer more apprenticeships and courses that help people develop their joinery and carpentry skills.
The next five years are looking challenging as the workforce continues to age and the recruitment pool becomes smaller. Businesses need to plan for staff changes and possible shortages by getting ahead of their recruitment needs to ensure their existing employees aren’t overworked to meet business needs.
Q: And how are things in the market, post-Covid?
A: Since the pandemic, the cost of energy, labour and timber has risen. This has had a knock-on effect on overheads and ultimately profit margins. The general economic downturn has also made housebuilders and homeowners more hesitant to spend money on renovations and new builds.
As inflation rises, businesses have been increasing their employees’ salaries to help with the cost of living. Here, companies must consider the long-term implications of higher salary costs on the business to ensure they can maintain them and provide job safety to all employees.
The fluctuating cost of timber and energy is also making it challenging for businesses to remain competitive. Timber businesses need to closely track the prices of materials and energy and cut costs accordingly to ensure they remain profitable.
Businesses will be forced to swallow some of the increasing costs to maintain positive relationships with their customers, but they must be aware of the amount that is being taken on.
By becoming an EOT, we have made a significant business decision to reduce the impact of these industry challenges. The steps we have taken help create a workforce that is responsible for counteracting issues, like retention and salary costs. We are also more likely to attract new, passionate people into our business because of the financial and future security benefits that becoming and EOT provides.
Q: Looking ahead, what is next for TwoTwenty?
A: We have almost two decades of experience in the industry and have built a strong and successful business in that time. With the EOT completed, existing management staying in place, employee job safeguarding and well-established customer relationships, we feel confident we have put everything in place to maintain and secure a strong business into the future.
For merchants, working with companies like TwoTwenty who put their customer relationships at the forefront of their business, will help reduce the impact of the current industry challenges.
We pride ourselves on providing a high-quality service to all our customers and delivering goods on time to reduce unexpected downtime. We look forward to building on our relationships and expertise to continue to provide an exemplary service and the best bespoke timber staircases in the sector.
Click here for more information about TwoTwenty.
