This year we mark the 20th anniversary of Sliders UK Ltd! Its success and durability are often down to our team of dedicated individuals. Each one committed to their part in manufacturing and supplying high quality products, and building long-term relationships with our customers.
We have maintained profitable growth by supplying high quality windows and doors, and ensuring an excellent customer experience. We deliver a trusted, expert, and reliable responsive service and continue to invest in our team and facilities.
As we come to the end of 2022 and celebrate this milestone, some of our team reflect and share what has stood out for them in the two decades of business.
‘To survive 20 years in the replacement window and door industry is no mean feat. From the early acorns sewn by Mike Spain and Ian Longbottom, the Company has grown into a fine Oak, with a turnover of more than £16million, employing some 130 people, with an 18-vehicle distribution fleet, based in 3.5 acres, just south of Preston, right alongside the M6, M61 and M56.
Like any business in our sector, we have seen great highs and lows, a pandemic, recession, supply chain challenges, but through it all we have worked hard, with our customers, to resolve the challenges.
We enter our 21st year with a market leading product range, superb customer focused service, a distribution hub second to none and after sales support that is the envy of many in the marketplace.
But all these achievements fail into insignificance without the continuing support of our customers. With over 1000 customers regularly buying from us, we are grateful for their support, feedback, testimonials, and advice. We don’t always get it right, but we pride ourselves that we take all possible actions at our disposal to resolve customer concerns.
So, on behalf of my fellow Directors, all our production, administration, sales, stores, and distribution staff, I would like to thank you all for your continuing support and wish you a Happy Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous 2023.’
Alex Murphy MBA BA, Chairman
‘I joined Sliders UK in May 2004 when we had only two 7.5 tonne vehicles with a horse box design, and we solely manufactured sliding patio doors.
Nearly 19 years on, we manufacture aluminium windows, entrance, French, sliding, bi-folding and composite doors. To accommodate our expansion, our fleet has increased to 18 vehicles of various sizes, mostly 15 to 18 tonne with full tail lifts that make loading and unloading easier and safer. These are used to provide an outstanding delivery service across England and Wales by our exceptional team.’
Mark Sherlock, Transport Director
‘I recently reached my 10 year milestone with Sliders UK. Initially joining as a Sales Representative for the Midlands to now overseeing all new business and day to day nationwide sales.
It has been an incredible 10 years with growth being at the forefront. Many goals have been reached with some bumps in the road along the way! As a business, we never sit still, always identifying positive and negative trends in the market early and making changes to our product portfolio where needed to help develop our customers’ sales.
Back in 2012 Sliders UK was manufacturing UPVC patio doors and vertical sliding windows. We had also just started manufacturing some composite doors. We identified a niche in the market for a reliable Aluminium bifold manufacturer and launched the Cortizo system soon afterwards. Ten years on and we now manufacture more than 150 aluminium bifolds per week. In more recent times, we saw the market for aluminium patio doors and windows rapidly grow. The inclusion of both products to the Ultimate Collection has been well received with great success.
As with all our products, we like to be innovative, giving our customers upgrade options in terms of hardware, security etc. Helping to keep them one step ahead of the competition.
We don’t stop there though, we continue to invest in new R&D work based on feedback from our customers and the wider market.’
Dean Hague, Business Development Director
‘I have worked for Sliders UK for 8 years now. We have the best family environment, and it is a great place to work.
At times it can be very fast paced, and most days have well over a hundred quotations, amendments, and orders to process. However, we all pull together to get the work done and most of the time we successfully action our customers’ requests within a couple of hours, or at least within our aim of 24 hours.’
Jen Morris, Admin Manager
‘One of Sliders UK’s greatest achievements, over the last 20 years, has been the investment in our people. We make a conscious effort to reward the hard work and dedication of our staff, whilst also encouraging them to meet their own personal growth targets.
Several senior staff members have been with Sliders UK for over 10 years and each one started their Sliders career working on the line. I, myself, started on the shop floor some 15 years ago and, thanks to the company’s reward and recognition ethos, I am now the Operations Director.
A huge benefit of in-house promotion is that senior staff have working-level knowledge of the manufacturing process and functionality of the products, which allows them to better support their employees experiencing any issues.
I truly believe this focus on staff progression and method of internal mobility provides our staff with the confidence to know their efforts will be acknowledged and, thus, encourages them to strive for excellence.’
Dan Ridings, Operations Director
Sliders UK will close on Thursday 22nd December 2022
Our office will re-open at 08:30 on Tuesday 3rd January 2023
Distribution will commence on Monday 9th January 2023
ABOUT US
Established in 2002, Sliders UK has excelled in optimising performance, quality, design, functionality and durability, time after time setting the Ultimate Door Collection apart in a competitive market.
Positioned in the North West of England, Sliders UK Ltd has a 100,000 sq ft factory situated next to the M6, providing essential access that enables our national supply of residential doors.
Each door & window is fully tested before it leaves the factory, guaranteeing performance and confirming peace of mind.