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MORE THAN JUST A FAMILY FIRM - HAZLEMERE WINDOW COMPANY 25 YEARS ON

Today we take a closer look at one of our valued sponsors, Hazlemere Windows.

Most residents of South Bucks, who have lived in the area for the past 25 years, will most probably have heard of independent double glazing manufacturers and installers Hazlemere Windows, whether through seeing one of their two dozen distinctive “HWC” signwritten vehicles out and about servicing the local community or by being one of their 18,000 satisfied customers or in local newspaper and magazines..

HWC Staff  2 New Vans Outside Showroom August 2009
HWC Staff 2 New Vans Outside Showroom August 2009

Newer residents may not be aware that Hazlemere Window Company is a well established a family firm first founded in High Wycombe in 1985 by Stuart Braham and his father George Braham who sadly passed away in 2006, leaving his three sons to run the family business.

25 years on, Hazlemere Windows remains a community focused family firm, despite having grown year on year to become one of the largest employers in the locality. In the 1990’s Hazlemere Window Company Ltd expanded into the Commercial and Public sectors, although it is best known throughout Buckinghamshire and Berkshire as suppliers and installers of high quality retail windows, doors and conservatories.

The company is still very much family owned and run, with many of the staff who have worked there for years having connections to the Braham family. George Braham’s son, Stuart is very much in the centre of things, being the "middle" one, and is quite literally in the middle of things as Hazlemere's Chairman and Managing Director.

Alan Braham, the youngest of George's three sons is one of Hazlemere’s specialist windows and doors consultants, having first served his apprenticeship on the factory floor in the early 1990’s before training to become the vastly experienced expert double glazing advisor he is today.

Alan and Stuart’s older brother Ian Braham, heads up Hazlemere Garage Doors and Hazlemere Blinds who manufacture supply and fit domestic and commercial pleated blinds, whilst supplying and fitting Roller, Roman, Venetian and Vertical made to measure blinds. Ian’s division also supply and fit bespoke garage doors, Fantasia conservatory ceiling fans, remote control and manual commercial and domestic awnings and canopies.

There is four other Directors of Hazlemere Window Company Ltd, who report to Stuart, who collectively run this well established family business based on Cressex Business Park in High Wycombe. Tony Beale, the Sales Director, is literally one of the family, having been with Hazlemere Windows for over 20 years, during which time the company has built up a turnover approaching £10m per annum, employs over five dozen staff and has more than 20 commercial vehicles on the road.

The company prides itself in high quality materials, craftsmanship, and excellent customer service, all backed by Hazlemere Windows own robust fully comprehensive 10 year guarantee. Hazlemere also offers all its customers the option of further deposit and guarantee insurance provided by the Independent Warranty Association.

Hazlemere Commercial, a major Division of the Hazlemere Group, manufacturers, supplies and installs a wide range of architectural aluminium windows, doors and curtain walling in schools, offices, business and commercial building in the UK. Hazlemere Commercial were awarded a £2.3m contract in 2008 to supply aluminium windows, doors and curtain walling for the new Bideford College in Devon, the bulk of which was delivered in 2009. This sustainability project involved the use of Sapa re-cycled aluminium to make the aluminium double glazed windows, aluminium commercial doors and aluminium curtain walling. The Commercial Division, LHC, Chas and Exor accredited, continues to go from strength to strength, and in 2009, Hazlemere Commercial were awarded a £1.7m contract to refurbish River Gardens in Fulham, West London during 2010. The highly successful Commercial Division is run by Commercial Sales Director Simon Keegan and Commercial Contracts Director, Barry Matthews.

Jason Bradshaw is the Operations Director responsible for all Hazlemere's aluminium and UPVC conservatory installations, building works and Hazlemere's dedicated experienced window and door installation teams. All the five board directors are based at Hazlemere's Head Offices in High Wycombe, Bucks.

So 25 years on this growing family business is a highly respected FENSA registered company, ISO 9001:2008 accredited and Investors in People approved, employing its own expert consultants, designers, estimators, surveyors, fabricators, installers and service engineers. Consequently, the Hazlemere Group are able to control the entire design, estimating, manufacturing and fitting process, along with having sufficient in-house back up to provide the levels of after sales service required by developers, local authorities and end users alike, as well as being able to offer professional expert preventative window and door maintenance, along with repairs and replacement to schools and commercial properties.

Hazlemere Window Company Ltd are members of the Energy Saving Trust, British Fenestration Rating Council and are licensed/approved Pilkington energiKare Partners, plus were the first company in the UK to design, manufacture and install an "A" rated aluminium dual frame aluminium window system, as endorsed and approved by both the Energy Saving Trust and the British Fenestration Rating Council. Hazlemere's energy rated, energy efficient, energy saving window range also includes an "A" rated UPVC window system.

When the Braham family started this business 25 years ago, I am sure they never envisioned the rapid growth and the amazing support they would receive from the local community, which has fuelled their success and been the bedrock of their continuing business growth. Consequently in 2009, Hazlemere Windows Board of Directors unanimously agreed to purchase the adjoining 38,000 building adjacent to Hazlemere Windows existing Head Office, Factory & Showroom in Wellington Road on Cressex Business Park, High Wycombe.

This strategic acquisition has enabled the Hazlemere Group to invest in the future, whilst continuing its steady growth by streamlining its manufacturing, further improving quality control and remaining highly competitive in the fenestration industry – not bad for a family run business with strong community ties that has steadily grown from humble beginnings to become the largest independent double glazing manufacturer and installer in the region today.


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