Jack Pennington celebrates milestone with expansion

A YORKSHIRE business which started out as a father-and-son venture 40 years ago this month is marking the milestone by expanding into the South.

Jack Pennington, based in Shipley, was set up in 1974 by veteran salesman Jack Pennington, who decided to go it alone with his son Keith supplying the UK’s old heavy industries of coal mining and steel-making.

The pair rented a floor of Prospect Mills in Wilsden near Bingley. In 1982 the firm moved to its current premises in Hird Street in Shipley.

The company, which has survived three recessions, has been at the forefront of distribution of installation products to mechanical and electrical contractors, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) contractors and building service industries.

The firm currently has a stock profile of more than 25,000 products on its shelves and has supplied contractors all over the UK for projects such as stadiums, hospitals, educational facilities and includes some more close to home projects including Leeds Arena and Leeds Trinity shopping centre.

Coinciding with its 40th anniversary, Jack Pennington has expanded for the first time to help service its growing customer base in the South East, having recently bought and refurbished a new warehouse and distribution facility in Kempston near Bedford, which began operating this month.

The business, which has turnover of £10m, employs more than 50 people and still remains a strong family affair.

“As a family business from Yorkshire we are continuously striving to maintain our values of honesty, integrity, value and service,” says managing director Chris Simpson, who joined the firm in 1977 as one of the first salesmen.

“We’ve always prided ourselves on the personal friendly service we can offer our customers and that approach has reaped its own rewards.

“It means that when times get tough – as they have done many times over the decades – we all pull together, solve our problems and gear up for new challenges. Being a family business doesn’t mean being old-fashioned. It means that we’ve been able to readily adapt to the huge changes in British commerce and industry since we started out.”

“It seems that in an increasingly competitive and complex world the no-nonsense way we do business is still appreciated,” added Mr Simpson. “And we intend to continue to build on this.”