EYG says their long-serving employees are the secret behind their 50 years of continuous success
3rd November 2021
The managing director of Hull-based EYG Group says the secret to its success has been retaining many long-serving members of staff who ‘care deeply about the business’ as it has been ‘a huge part of their lives’.-
Founded in 1971 by Jim Bingham and Chris George and initially run from the kitchen pantry of a small terraced house in Cambridge Road, Hessle, the company did £10,000 of business in its first year, but has since grown to regularly have an annual turnover in excess of £20m.
In total the business has seen more than £630m go through its books as it has expanded from initially being solely a double glazing firm to a leader in major home improvements, from extensions such as conservatories and orangeries to now also offering high-quality and bespoke garden rooms.
Its industry-leading products are manufactured in its own 65,000 sq ft UK production facility in Wiltshire Road, Hull, supplying thousands of homeowners across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
The business also has a thriving commercial arm which installs windows, doors and curtain walling on multi-million-pound developments such as new hotels, schools and retail complexes.
Many employees still with business after decades
Significantly, EYG currently has 35 staff members who have been with the business for more than a quarter of a century, and 12 who have clocked up in excess of 30 years.
Almost 80 members of staff currently employed by the business have been there at least 10 years.
Joint Founder Mr Bingham still works a number of days a week as a director, with his son-in-law Nick Ward having run the business alongside Mr George, who retired earlier in the year, for the past 15 years.
He says that continuity in the business has been key.
“One of the things our customers love about EYG is that when they return to us after many years they usually find they are dealing with someone, whether they be in sales, surveying, installations or customer service, that they have dealt with before,” said Mr Ward.
“That gives our customers reassurance and also sends out a very strong message about this business itself.
“Over the past couple of decades, we have of course expanded and that growth has taken our brand into other areas of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, but we have never lost sight of the fact that we are an East Yorkshire business – as is reflected in our name – with people from across Hull and the East Riding being integral to the success we have enjoyed.
“That large number of long-serving employees is hugely important to us. They are people who know the business and truly care deeply about it, as it has been a huge part of their lives. I think it is what gives us the advantage over others in the market locally.”
Loyal customers rewarded to mark 50th year as new products launched
In recognition of its connection to the region, EYG is soon to launch its new range of its own bespoke, handmade in-house manufactured front and back doors, which it has named the ‘Kingston’ range.
It is also currently contacting customers who have used the firm on a number occasions offering exclusive 50th year celebratory offers on its products, which will not be made more widely available.
“We’ve looked at our sales history and we’ve identified people who have supported us over the years, going back many years, and we will be contacting them with exclusive reward offers,” added Mr Ward.
“We want it to be personable and special, so we’ll only be allowing 50 people to take up the offer given it is our 50th year. We think that’s a nice way to reward people who have helped us get to where we are today.
“It’s also a reflection of our strength that we have been able to use our 50th year to launch our new range of EYG manufactured doors.
“This is something we have done to ensure we are not affected by supply issues, as many have been over the past 12 months in our industry. We have the strength to be in control of our own destiny and that bodes well for the next 50 years.”
Following a surge in sales, EYG recently announced its ‘best ever pay packages’ for fitting teams and launched a recruitment drive to ensure it could meet high demand for its products.
The company now has domestic sales branches in Scarborough, Doncaster, Lincoln, Scunthorpe and Spalding whilst its commercial division has enjoyed success in supplying windows and doors to a number of prestige housebuilders on new developments across the region this year.
