Brick maker to build on record turnover as lockdown is eased

York Handmade has just completed two huge projects in London, including Lancer Square in Kensington

Based at Alne, near Easingwold, York Handmade said it is looking forward to a positive post-coronavirus future with a healthy pipeline of work. The company is currently working on a raft of prestigious commercial and residential developments across the UK, as the lockdown eases.

Chairman, David Armitage, said: “Before Coronavirus struck, we were flourishing, with some high-quality commissions in London, Cambridge, the North West and, of course,

Yorkshire.

“Obviously the lockdown has hit us, but we have kept our factory open – with strict social distancing and safety measures in place. As the country emerges, albeit slowly, from this nightmare, we are well-positioned to tackle the tough challenges posed by coronavirus and to emerge stronger than ever.

“Our order book for this year is very healthy, with a number of exciting commissions on the horizon. We have just completed two huge projects in London, Lancer Square in Kensington and One Molyneux Street in Marylebone, and there are two more high-quality developments in the pipeline in Mayfair and King’s Cross."

He said there were fears that Covid-19 might hit the self-build residential property market hard, but that is not York Handmade's experience. The firm said it is providing bricks for self-build projects across the UK.”

These include commissions in York, Doncaster, Sheffield, Liverpool, the Wirral, Durham, Hexham, Shropshire, Rugby and Stoke, totalling almost £1m.

Mr Armitage said: “Our success has enabled us to invest in a new dryer, which will speed up the production process and make us more efficient. Looking ahead, it is encouraging to report that brick remains the building material of choice for many architects and specifiers across the UK.”

York Handmade was founded in 1988, taking control of a redundant pipeworks in Forest Lane, Alne. Since then the company has grown to 30 employees.

Mr Armitage said: “The key to our success has been our loyal staff, some of whom have been with us from the very start. They have demonstrated this loyalty during the current crisis and we are indebted to them.

“The factory involves many and varied skills from engineering to ceramic expertise and relies on dedication and expertise at all levels of the production cycle.”