Fast-growing construction firm shares the story of its success and future expansion plans

“The expertise provided by Business Wales AGP has ben vital for our growth.”

We've helped dozens of businesses across Wales develop, grow and find new markets.

Our blog series is focusing on many of those companies – and here we take a look at Mochdre-based Brenig Construction, a firm led by Howard Vaughan and Mark Parry.

Brenig has been delivering high-profile, award-winning civil engineering and building projects throughout North Wales and the UK since 2012. 

Mark Parry made a career for himself as a project manager at a top major national construction company before forming Brenig Construction.

Here, Mark Parry and Howard Vaughan tell the Brenig Construction story and offer valuable advice to other business leaders intent on expansion.

Tell us about Brenig.
In 2012 we won our first contract, which was with Cartrefi Conwy and was worth £11,000. It was a sign of things to come for us.

In 2013 we achieved sales of £600,000 and won our first £1m contract, working on the new Ysgol Gogarth, a special school in Llandudno. By 2014 sales were £2.6m and in 2015, £5m – continuing our steady growth. 

Since then the company has gone from strength to strength, and in the past 12 months, we've secured an order book of around £40m, been awarded a 10-year contract with Wales & West and signed a joint venture with Cartrefi Conwy worth £10m.

For the year which ended in October 2019, sales were more than £15m. That's something we're incredibly proud of. 

What are your proudest moments in business so far?
Undertaking a transformational project at a local children's hospice was something we took immense pride in. We know that we're in a privileged position, leading a company like ours. It means we can support and help charities – in this case we were able to work with our supply chain to carry out the project £50,000 below the hospice's budget.

If you were starting again, what would you do differently?
A million and one things to be honest. Probably the one thing that we would do differently is to learn to say no! That's no to certain clients and no to certain projects.

It's tough when starting a business to say no as you need the work and you need the turnover to bring in money and pay the bills. But saying yes to everything in business can cause some serious issues and can have a detrimental effect on the business, particularly in the first three to five years.

How has support from Business Wales AGP helped your business?
The expertise provided by Business Wales AGP has been massive and has been vital as we've grown as a company. 

We've had consultancy support through the Business Wales AGP via nine work packages covering strategy, management organisation and development, as well as effective management controls.

We now employ more than 60 people.

What advice and guidance would you give other businesses starting out?

● Be hardworking, ambitious, reliable and driven.

● Always be the very best in your field.

● Irrespective of size, give every job equal levels of dedication and the highest standards.

● Be your customer's first choice all the time.

● Communicate well with customers, suppliers and employees.

For more information on Brenig visit here.

Further information on the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme.

Inventor farmer & engineer business leader team up to bring new products to market

“We’ve had proactive help and support from our Business Wales AGP relationship manager.”

There are dozens of innovative businesses which have been given support by Business Wales AGP to provide a platform for growth.

The latest firm which has used Business Wales AGP expertise which we feature in our blog series is Bison Security (Wales).

The company was established by farmer Gareth Davies and engineer Phil Corke, combining their skills as an inventor and business leader respectively, to success. 

Here, Gareth Davies and Phil Corke tell the story of their business and offer advice to others looking to grow their idea into a thriving commercial enterprise. 

Tell us about Bison
We established Bison Security (Wales) to develop the Quad Vice as a saleable item and then other security products for motocross and all types of bicycles. 

We’ve now sold several Quad Vices – a product which has been certified by an independent security company, Sold Secure to its gold standard.

We’re in the process of growing sales through direct and indirect channels. 

What are your proudest moments in business so far?
It has to be winning the British Farming Gold Award for most innovative machinery of the year in front of 700 people for our Quad Vice. It was proof of the quality of the product and an endorsement from our target market.
 

If you were starting again, what would you do differently?
Financial support for their design and manufacturing business has been practically non-existent.

We may not have taken out patents and brand protection, since this has taken tens of thousands of pounds out of our scarce resources, and instead gone straight to market.

Going straight to market would probably have increased sales volume.

How has support from Business Wales AGP helped your business?
We’ve had proactive help and support from our relationship manager who has kept in touch throughout our time on the Business Wales AGP.

The process of gaining approval and access to support took longer than expected, but it’s been worthwhile.

What advice and guidance would you give other businesses starting out?

● Check the viability of your idea/product and then stick at it and do not give in.

● Money lubricates the wheels of business, and if you have another source of financial resources, outside your new business to support yourself, that will allow you the time and space to cope with unforeseen challenges and setbacks.

● Make sure you work with competent partners and associates; otherwise, a few years down the road, something that “niggles” you now will drive you mad.

● Try and ensure suppliers, support agencies and everyone you work with delivers on their promises.

For more information on Bison Security (Wales) visit here.

Further information on the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme.

Specialist procurement firm aids faith groups

"Being part of the Business Wales AGP is helping us to achieve our next phase of growth."

We continue our blog series on the businesses we've helped to develop and grow with a look at 2buy2.com – a procurement firm based in Pencoed, Bridgend – and its new spin-off, Church Buying. Established seven years ago, 2buy2.com employs around 40 people and launched Church Buying to help churches and others reduce time and money spent on day-to-day purchases and their long-term planning needs.

Here, Rob Kissick, CEO, tells the story of 2buy2.com and Church Buying and offers some helpful tips to others embarking on the business journey.

Tell us about 2buy2.com.
We've supported more than 8,000 churches so they can be good stewards of their resources. It's meant millions of pounds can be invested in the mission and ministry of the Church, rather than being wasted on expensive energy contracts, over-priced photocopiers and office supplies.

Church leaders and managers continually ask for a purchasing service which allows them to put mission and ministry at the forefront of their planning needs. This is why we felt it was the right time to launch a dedicated purchasing service for all Church and other faith and belief organisations.

Church Buying provides a personal approach to purchasing, with a dedicated customer care team, as well as an easy-to-use online service centre and several free services and resources.

It means that churches can direct more of their income to their mission and on serving the community.

The services provided through Church Buying are open to all faith and belief groups.

What are your proudest moments in business so far?
When we were recognised as the 34th fastest growing business in Wales by the Fast Growth 50, it was a huge boost and a validation of all the hard work everyone at the company has been putting in.

If you were starting again, what would you do differently?
In all honesty – not much! We now feel that we're an established company and our offshoot service, Church Buying is the next phase in our development. 

We've been supported through Business Wales AGP to develop parts of the business which needed work and which we needed to re-examine as we've expanded. But doing things differently would probably mean we'd be a different company to the one we are now.

How has support from Business Wales AGP helped your business?
Being part of the Business Wales AGP is helping us to achieve our next phase of growth.

We've had coaching support through Business Wales AGP in lots of areas.

On organisational development, we've been supported with expertise and advice as well as on business growth strategies – vital as we look to expand our company.

We've also had help on our HR strategy, specifically on how we approach reward and recognition for staff.

The help we've had from Business Wales AGP has been invaluable and is the kind of advice many businesses out there need but might not know is there for them.

What advice and guidance would you give other businesses starting out?

● Ensure you develop clear values and stick to them.

● Take risks to achieve your goals.

● Employ people with expertise – surround yourself with brilliant people in their fields.

For more information on 2buy2.com, visit here.

Further information on the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme.