About us
Humble beginnings
In 1898, a young man called Harry Fairclough, having completed his apprenticeship in Manchester and armed with a £50 loan from his father, started his own construction company in Howley, Warrington. A company that not only took his name but took on his values, integrity and total commitment to the growth and development of his beloved home region.
Since then, the Harry Fairclough name has become synonymous with the construction industry in the North West and particularly in Warrington where the company still retains its premises. In 1948, the firm became a limited company and Harry’s son, Mark, took on the role of Chairman in the family business. The subsequent growth of the North West’s industrial economy, combined with the firm’s understanding and quick response to customer needs, has resulted in Harry Fairclough Construction Ltd
expanding to become the much respected and trusted company it is today.
The here and now
Over 110 years since Harry Fairclough first started his construction company, his values remain firmly embedded in the business. Harry had a particular ability for understanding his customers’ needs and responding to them quickly. He believed passionately in training and developing his own apprentices, staff and management and promoting on merit from within. And he believed in remaining close to his North West roots.
Today, Harry Fairclough Construction is still fully committed to investing in its people, helping them to develop to their full potential. Out of our 150 direct employees, some 60% are tradesmen and apprentices and 40% management. They are an extremely well motivated, skilled and loyal workforce - many of who have been with us man and boy.
Our award-winning apprenticeship scheme offers technical skill training for some 15 local youngsters at any one time. A high percentage of our site managers have been developed and progressed from an apprenticeship/ trade position and, at the highest level, every single one of our directors has come up through the ranks, progressing to their present positions after some fifteen to twenty years’ loyal service.
Still based in Howley, Warrington, operationally our business is structured around two divisions - Build and Civil Engineering - each led by a specialist management team. We enjoy a collaborative way of working with our customers, particularly public sector organisations, an approach consistent with Harry’s founding values.
The result is that in the financial year ending 31 March 2009, our £20 million plus turnover was secured either via frameworks or from repeat business. Not bad for a company that started with a £50 loan!
A simple philosophy
Our business philosophy is simply: train-up operatives, staff and management to the highest standards, then allow them to do what they do best. It’s therefore competency driven, based on the following characteristics:
- A thorough and deep understanding of customer and end user needs, particularly within site delivery staff and apprentices.
- A high level of buildability skills in the ‘best fit’ areas of our operation.
- A positive, can-do, attitude towards customer needs and relationships.
- Long-standing knowledge within the construction business and the company’s standing in the external market place.
- In-house resources/capabilities and an ability for men and women to work safely.
- The ability to handle volume without comprising on quality.
- A team ethic based on what is best for the customer.
- An organisation structure that ‘best fits’ activities and which is extremely difficult for competitors to mimic.
- A tried and tested method for matching operatives, staff and management with projects.