King’s And Revolutions

Made For Trade has been presented with a Kings Award for Enterprise which recognises the ‘revolutionary’ and patented Korniche roof lantern systems the company developed alongside its aluminium bi-folds and flat rooflights.

Mrs Sue Snowdon, His Majesty King Charles’ Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham presented the royal seal of approval during an October 2024 visit to the Teesside manufacturer which has grown to 240 employees and has a UK-wide customer base.

Bradley Gaunt, Made For Trade’s (MFT) MD, said: “This award is the highest award you can get in business. I am absolutely delighted, not just for my family (this is still a family-run business) but my team. We are truly honoured with this huge recognition for what we have done. We don’t have any plans to export right now, however if ever we wanted to cross the waters, this award will have huge benefits.”

Made For Trade, which was previously known as Aanco, was handed to engineer Bradley when he was just 23 by his father Richard Gaunt, who is still involved in the business. Fellow engineer, Ashley, joined his brother after a successful career. They have been recently joined by sister Lois.

 When Bradley took over, the company had just 11 employees and worked from one base. Now it has three manufacturing sites in the North-East and a headquarters of over 190,000sq.ft, a 25-strong fleet of delivery vehicles and an engineering and innovation department, headed up by Ashley.

 

Growth

Bradley said: “Over forty years ago when we started, my father was manufacturing and installing PVC-U windows on Teesside. We had a good name for ourselves; but the domestic market was getting tough and I wanted us to innovate and concentrate on B2B. 

“We began focussing more on the trade manufacturing side and making quality products at a really good price. From there we designed the Korniche aluminium lantern roof. Structurally its strong, aesthetically it’s so much better than others on the market, it’s solar controlled and easy and fast to install.” 

 

Lord-Lieutenant

Mrs Snowdon said: “These awards are not easily attained. They are highly prized and the hallmark of excellence across the world. The King’s Awards are only given to companies who are particularly innovative in the marketplace.

“Made For Trade is now one of the UK’s largest manufacturers of bi-folding doors and the sole fabricator of the multi-award-winning Korniche roof lantern product. I was truly impressed by how the company has grown and innovated and how it has disrupted the marketplace by designing a product which is not only more aesthetically pleasing,but quicker and easier to install. 

“Made for Trade is a truly innovative and exciting British company, with generations of experience and an excellent team.”

 

Picture: Bradley Gaunt, the Korniche roof lantern and the Lord-Lieutenant with escort.

www.madefortrade.co
www.korniche.co.uk

www.gov.uk/kings-awards-for-enterprise/how-to-apply  

 

Article written by Cathryn Ellis
25th October 2024

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