ABOUT
We are proud to be different.
We have changed a lot over the last 100 years but still trade on our rich heritage and experience of supplying pipe, fittings, valves, drainage and bracketry into both the Commercial Building Services and Industrial Process markets.
Operating out of branches in Midlands, Manchester, Bristol and London, we support our customers in delivering their projects on time and to budget.
Our approach to business is to meet the requirements of all of our customers, colleagues and suppliers in an open and collaborative approach.
Environment
To minimize our impact on the environment the company has a focus on waste reduction and each
branch operates waste segregation to reduce landfill.
Midlands, London and Bristol have recently had new LED lighting systems installed which should
reduce energy consumption by over 50%.
The vehicle fleet also employ the Masternought® traffic guidance system to plan the most efficient
routes to reduce Co2 and fuel costs as well recording speed of vehicles.
2021 will see a roll out of electric vehicles.
Quality
Our focus on Quality is not limited to our ISO9001 process. Many of the projects we supply require detailed product certifications to match an individual SKU and a mill certification for critical applications where country of origin is also required.
Our supply chain partners are also the leading branded manufacturers in the market to ensure that
our clients can install products with confidence.
Health & Safety
Due to the nature of the business we operate in there is always an inherent danger in our day to day tasks.
The company rigorously maintains the highest Health & Safety standards and employs both a dedicated General Manager and Group Transport Manager to ensure that the we meet these standards.
TEAMWORK
Companies often write about experience, knowledge and number of years served, we can't get away from this fact.
The vast majority of our colleagues have individual decades of industry ‘time served’ experience both in sales, branch operations, transport, warehousing, procurement and sourcing of pipe & drainage systems, valves and associated products.
The success of our business is in bringing this wealth of knowledge together to provide the very best service within the industry.
Meet The Team
Chris Dean
Branch Manager
Chris is the Manager of our Manchester branch and has been in the industry for over 30 years. Starting his carrier as a mechanical engineer with Drake & Scull. Over the past decades he has worked in several management roles within BSS & Smith Brothers Stores. In his spare time, he likes keeping fit and spending time watching his lads playing rugby.
Geoff Hoare
Branch Manager
Geoff is the Manager of our Bristol branch. He has been in the business for 25 years having spent most of that time as Branch Manager of Pipe Center Oxford. Outside of work Geoff enjoys football (Oxford Utd), cricket and socialising.
Richard Cowley
Branch Manager
Richard is our Midlands Branch Manager. He has recently returned to Ashworth after a 14 year absence. In-between, Richard has been a Group Mechanical Buyer for a National Contractor, a Technical Sales Manager for a leading press-fit manufacturer, was Key Account Manager for Pipe Center, and recently a Contractor Manager for Mitsubishi Electric selling into M&E contractors. He joins still being a Wolves Fan, and a bad golfer.
Steve Everard
Director – London & South East
Steve Everard joined the industry in 1993, when he joined British Fittings as a Warehouse operative, he has held Management roles, and Sales and Operation roles since, in both Mechanical and Electrical distribution, with his time at Wolseley and Rexel, before joining Ashworth in 2018.
In his spare time he enjoys playing Football, Golf and fishing.
Robb Alsem
Director
09.04.72 - 05.04.21
Our friend and colleague.
Robb loved Ashworth and was a huge part of the recovery and shape of the business as we see it today. We will remember him for his tenacity, the way he managed people, his work ethic & ethos, his commitment, dedication and above all his sense of humour. He put everything into offering our customers the very best possible service – nothing was too much trouble.
You will never be forgotten Robb and you had such a big impact on the people who you helped, made laugh, coached, impersonated!, listed to, taught, and cared for.
Take care kid.
Phil Ager
Director – Central & South West
Phil looks after the South West, South Wales and the Midlands based from our Bristol Branch.
He has been in the Industry for over 25 years including manufacturing, contracting and distribution starting with BSS as a Management Trainee in the warehouse in BSS Cardiff straight after leaving University where he passed socialising and playing rugby with a distinction.
Phil held several positions during his 14 years with BSS before he moved to Pipe Center as Regional Sales Director before joining Ashworth in June 18.
Les Sykes
Finance Director
Les joined Ashworth as Finance Director in 2017 following previous appointments as a Finance Director within the Construction Industry. Previously Les held a position as audit manager where he gained his Associate Chartered Accountant qualification, and is now a fellow member of his institute. Les also holds a first class honours degree in Business Management.
Russ Goddard
Head of Product
Having joined Ashworth in 1981 as a YTS apprentice, Russ is our longest serving colleague. Russ has a wide portfolio which includes product management, inventory and commercial functions.
Jackie Mellor
General Manager
Jackie joined the industry in 1984 starting with the historic Brown & Tawse. Since then, Jackie has worked for BSS and Pipe Centre joining Ashworth in January 2018.. Since then her organisational skills have taken her to supporting Directors and Branch Managers with the operational facets of business. As General Manager Jackie is responsible for our Corporate Governance ensuring we remain compliant.
James Gaby
Commercial Director
James has 30 years in the industry, starting work for Crane valves in 1990 then with BSS as a Branch manager and Sales Director.
In 2014 James worked for an independent hire company and then set up his own hire business, ZIP in 2017.
James is a keen cyclist and runner with a mission in 2021 to go sub 50 mins for a 10k.
Brian Smithers
Managing Director
Brian started his career in 1987 working for an M&E company called Taylor Building services where he qualified at ONC level in Mechanical Engineering, Brian Joined Pipeline Centre 1991 where he held various roles and was appointed National Sales Director in 2003, Brian went on to be the Managing Director of WF Electrical in 2005 and was then appointed to the Rexel Board In Northern Europe In 2011.
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