Cocklestorm Fencing Ltd

General information

OUR STORY

Cocklestorm Fencing Co Ltd was established on 23rd June 1978 by two brothers Ronnie and Stanley Sutcliffe (formally trading as “Sutcliffe Brothers”).

After spotting a niche in the market the brothers set up shop at Taylor Lane, Breightmet. Here, they manufactured high quality fence panels and gates, supplying and installing to the local domestic market.

Due to the high quality of the fencing and dedicated customer service (traits which continue to this day) word spread. The company soon expanded production and started to cut their own logs, taking premises first at Castlecroft, Bury and then on to Crown Works, Radcliffe.

As the company continued to grow and develop, the next expansion was to set up manufacturing the concrete posts and base panels, originally at a site based in Kirklees Valley, off Brandlesholme Road, Bury.

Later Cross Lane Mill was purchased and substantially renovated; this allowed the whole operation to become one and to be brought to Radcliffe.

In 1990, Graydor Works, Ebury Street was purchased and substantially renovated to create a purpose designed production facility specifically for the sawmilling and manufacture of timber fencing and gates. Shortly afterwards, unfortunately, the recession of the 1990’s bit and hit the company extremely hard, forcing Crown Works and Graydor Works to be sold off, staff levels were reduced to the minimum. Stanley sold up and retired in 1996.

Over the next few years, business began to improve. With better sales came an increase in staff and investment, things were looking up until Ronnie’s sudden passing left everyone in shock. After a couple of years managed by Ronnie’s friend and right hand man Paul Lomax, a decision was made to sell the company to Ronnie’s son Jamie and his business partner Andrew Humby.

Jamie and Andrew grew up together and throughout school had shared an interest in earning money, often encouraged by Ronnie. They started out selling sweets and crisps at school, and in their spare time made flowerpots and birdfeeders out of flitches (the waste side off cut of the log) from Cocklestorm. These were then loaded into a wheelbarrow and were being sold door to door. At college, Andrew and Jamie’s ventures continued as they bagged up and sold sawdust. After college, they both sought employment but continued in the same spirit, re-dipping fencing panels at weekends before setting up with their own car and trailer. They rented a small section of Cocklestorm’s Cross Lane premises, branding themselves as the “Big Dippers”. As business grew for Andrew and Jamie, they soon moved to installing fencing and purchased part of Crown Works from Cocklestorm. This increase in commercial sales led to a change of name, Premier Fencing UK Ltd.

Premier Fencing Ltd continued to grow, supplying and fitting all types of domestic, commercial and industrial fencing to local authorities, factories, schools, and utility companies etc, always ensuring they used the best quality domestic fencing materials from Cocklestorm.

It seemed a natural fit that following the sale that the two companies were merged under the Cocklestorm name.

BUSINESS TODAY

In 2007, a 20,000 sq. ft building, Radcliffe Freight Terminal, was purchased and substantially renovated to become the main sales site. This allowed a large increase in the range of products to include decking, sheds, garden furniture, ornate aggregates, continental panels and a well stocked DIY shop. This also created space for a large customer display site and dedicated customer parking.

2013 brought about the expansion of Cocklestorm, both inside and outside the building. Extra land was acquired for customer parking due to the volume of customers shopping with Cocklestorm. Inside the building large scale changes were also made. More offices had to be built due to a large increase in staffing levels and the shop was extended to house the ever increasing range of products which are now available and to give the customer a more comfortable shopping experience. Due to the ever increasing customer base and staffing levels, Cocklestorm have been putting a lot of work into perfecting their excellent in house computer systems working towards becoming a paperless business.

Cocklestorm Fencing has come a long way over the last 35 years now employing over 40 (mainly local) staff manufacturing, delivering, installing and selling thousands of products . By continuing as Ron and Stan started over 35 years ago we continue to offer a quality product at a great price. Our sentiment is ‘ big enough to deliver – small enough to care’. Through the efforts of our dedicated, hard working team and continued reinvestment within the business Cocklestorm Fencing Co Ltd continues to flourish and expand. Regardless of the current business climate, they are filled with optimism and looking forward to continued expansion into the next 35 years.