A growing construction company has brought all of its operations together under one roof after relocating into a new premises.
Carson Powell Construction took on a building in Campbell Road, Stoke, as its new head office just before the start of the pandemic in March 2020.
It comes after the company successfully increased its workforce to 82 employees – from just three a decade ago.
Now Carson Powell Construction – which was previously operating from two separate sites in Cobridge and Festival Park – has officially moved into its new base.
Managing director Neil Powell said: "We bought this building from Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce just before the pandemic, and we finished renovating it about a year ago, but because of covid it's only really now that we have been able to have everyone in.
"As a business, things have gone really well for us over the past 18 months or so. We were able to work pretty much all the way through and luckily didn't really experience a downturn because we operate in a variety of different sectors – education, healthcare, social housing, public sector buildings and other commercial developments – and they all balanced each other out."
He added: "It was difficult at times but now we are up and running – and this is the first time we've all been able to be together."
Carson Powell Construction is part of a group of companies which also includes SMD Electrical, Corbishley Roofing and Cladding and Horton Building Plastics.
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The company's move to Stoke means Horton Building Plastics has been able to expand its base at Cobridge while SMD Electrical and Corbishley Roofing and Cladding have taken on the Festival Park site.
It also means Carson Powell has room to grow even more, with plans to recruit 10 new staff over the next six months.
Neil said: "Now we are all moved in and settled, we are targeting steady and sensible growth.
"We want to create some new jobs in the next six months and will be looking for joiners, painters, office staff and apprentices as and when we need them."
To mark the opening of its new headquarters, Carson Powell hosted a breakfast morning to showcase the success of its apprentices during National Apprenticeship Week last week.
The firm currently has 11 apprentices, and two degree apprentices, across painting, joinery, bricklaying, maintenance and accounts.
Neil added: "Over the last 10 years we've had about 40 apprentices, and about half of them have gone on to full-time jobs with us, or our competitors, which is great.
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"So with it being National Apprenticeship Week, we wanted to celebrate them and showcase their success."
Tom Barrow is part-way through a level 2 joinery apprenticeship with Carson Powell and Newcastle-under-Lyme College.
The 20-year-old, who lives in Packmoor, said: "I decided to do an apprenticeship when I was 17 because I wanted to start earning money as soon as I could, and this seemed a good way to do it.
"I didn't really know what I wanted to do but I enjoyed woodwork at school so I thought joinery would be a good option."
Tom added: "I really enjoy working at Carson Powell, I get to work on a range of different things and I enjoy it all. It's really satisfying to see something you’ve been working on come together."