MERCHANT FOCUS: LAWSONS LAWSONS- 100 YEARS OF PEOPLE AND COMMUNITY
Since the opening of the first Lawson & Son Timber Merchant in Whetstone, London in 1921, Lawsons has grown into one of the UK’s largest independent timber, building and fencing merchants, with a network of 31 branches stretching from Peterborough to the South Coast.
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n its centenery year, South East independent builders and timber merchant isheading into a period of rapid growth, both organic and acquisitive. The focus, however, will still be on the company’s people, the driving frce behind evey good business. In the early 1950s John Lawson, son and grandson of the company’s founders, returned from national service to develop the fencing contracting business with many of the older employees. Timber was on licence and markets restricted. He moved the business into shed and fencing panel manufacture and continually improved the range of products. Lawsons was the first to sell fencing materials cut to length and ready treated. The product range was expanded to include timber and sheet materials which transformed the business from a fencing contractor/merchant to a fully-fledged timber merchant. Over the years building materials were added to the product range, making Lawsons a “one stop” timber and builders’ merchant.
John Lawson and his son Simon, the current Chairman are respectively the third and fourth generation of the family to head the Lawsons business, positioning the company with a focus not only on its customers, but also on its employees and the wider community to create long term, sustainable and profitable growth. The group currently operates 31 branches, 17 operating as mixed merchants under the Lawsons brand with a further 14 specialist timber and fencing branches mainly under the AVS Fencing and Landscaping brand. Joint managing directors Paul Rushent and Jeremy Norris ensure that the company strapline “Family Values – Professional Service” is embedded consistently throughout this fast- growing business. For Jeremy “that means action, not just words. We created a family values document which set out our beliefs; job
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security and honest communication to create a positive working environment, empowerment in roles and in ideas allowing staff to speak out, building a sector-leading pay and benefits package, committing to a huge investment in training and development – and we then delivered against it. We are sincere when we say that we put people before profit”. Lawsons are also equally committed to social responsibility and their work in the community. Each branch has a fund to support local charities in their area, and Lawsons also work at a group level on social and environmental issues. Paul talks about how
the sense of family has created a supportive ethic throughout the business. “We respect and appreciate our staff and we trust them to help others. This has enabled us to support the Bounceback Program employing ex-offenders as well as working with YMCA Downslink to offer a pathway to training and employment for young adults at risk of being homeless. As a business we feel everybody has something to offer, no one should fall through the cracks in society”.
As part of its societal vision, Lawsons are aware of their environmental impact and the need to work hard to be a responsible
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net January 2022
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