FixFirm News…
Meet Our Employees - The Warehouse Distribution Team (October 2017)
Meet Liam Elsey – Warehouse Operative at FixFirm…
Liam started at FixFirm in 2015 where he completed a 12 month apprenticeship in Warehousing and Storage Level 2.
Following his apprenticeship Liam was offered a full time position as Warehouse Operator, where his main responsibility is to ensure FixFirm’s customers receive their orders in a timely and presentable manner.
Liam also works in our Trade Counter Shop acting as the Face of FixFirm, an element of his job which he really enjoys.
In his spare time, Liam is a keen follower of Aston Villa Football Club and enjoys Social Media, having over 9,000 followers on his Twitter account.
FixFirm donate to Hillside Community Garden, Lincoln (October 2017)
FixFirm are pleased to have recently donated £200 to Green Synergy to help them develop their Hillside Community Garden Hub Project close to Lincoln Hospital.
Green Synergy is developing an 2.5 acre wasteland area and are aiming to need raise £50,000 for the project.
Together with local residents, community groups, schools and hospital staff and patients, the site is being turned into a beautiful, edible, friendly community garden. The addition of multi-use pathways, wheelchair accessible raised beds, large vegetable plots, fruit cages, polytunnels, therapeutic gardens and a wildlife adventure trail will ensure that garden will be space that everyone can enjoy.
Speaking about the donation Tim Haughton, Director at FixFirm stated 'As a Lincoln based business, we feel it is important that we help local charities and businesses by investing something back into the community, especially on projects like this that benefit so many people'.
To make a donation yourself towards the project, please visit www.fundit.buzz/greensynergy
Order Online before 31st October and Enter a Prize Draw (October 2017)
FixFirm are currently operating an incentive for customers to place their next order online via Procure-site – our online portal.
By doing so, you will be entered into a Prize Draw for your chance to win either a bottle of red or white wine.
All you have to do to qualify is order online by Tuesday 31st October - winners will be announced in our next newsletter.
To open an account, simply click here and complete the online registration form.
To view a brief user guide on how to order online, please click here.
We look forward to your next online order and the all the best of luck!
FixFirm Sponsor Meet The Buyer Event (October 2017)
FixFirm are pleased to announce that we are the main sponsor of the Constructionline 'Meet The Buyer Event' to be held at Allianz Park (Saracan's Rugby Club) on Tuesday 17th October 2017.
The event will prove to be a great opportunity for FixFirm to network with procurement professionals from top main contractors, public sector authorities and other organisations from in and around the London area, as well as over 1,000 like-minded businesses from the construction industry.
FixFirm will be exhibiting on Stand 27 where we will be outlining how construction companies can strategically align their procurement processes for greater cost savings, efficiency and control in the purchase of their site supplies.
To visit the event, please click here
Internal Approaches to Improve our Customer Service (October 2017)
FixFirm have recently being looking at our internal approaches to Customer Service in a an attempt to maintain the excellent standards that have been the basis of our success since we were formed in 1971.
The system we have developed, which is supported by staff documentation and awarensss posters, is called Qube 4 and is designed to ensure we consistently provide a first class service to all our customers, at all times.
Qube 4 looks at how we deal with the various ways customers contact us - this includes Quotes, Quick Orders, Questions and Qualms.
Against each of these contact types we have allocated the measurement of Acknowledgement, Speed, Consistency, Presentation and Accuracy (ASCPA)
Selina Sutherland (Sales Development) and Emily Buchner (Customer Services) have developed the concept and will be running random spot checks throughout the business going forward.
Speaking about the Qube 4 System, Selina and Emily both say ‘ FixFirm would not be where it is today without taking customer service issues very seriously. We are proud to be continually committed to improving our service and doing what we can to exceed expectations.’
If anyone has any feedback they would like to send FixFirm about our Customer Service, then please click here
New Look for FixFirm Offices and Distribution Centre (July 2017)
Following the rebranding of FixFirm in 2016, we are now pleased to announce we have completed implementing our ‘new look’ at our Lincoln office and warehouse/distribution centre.
The old look of green and silver, which had been the look of the company for over 10 years, has now been replaced with light blue and silver and gives the site a fresh new look!
We hope you like the new branding and we hope to see you pop into our Trade Counter soon.
Our Trade Counter is open from 7am til 5pm, Monday and Friday and is located to the right of our main reception entrance as outlined by our new signage.
Meet Our Employees - The Customer Service Team
Meet Emily Buchner – Customer Services Advisor at FixFirm…
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Emily has worked at FixFirm since September 2016 having completed her A-Levels last Summer in 5 subjects areas!
Her main responsibilities include dealing with incoming enquiries via telephone and email, and looking after new orders and quotations.
Emily is currently taking up a lead role on implementing new internal procedures to raise the standard of the Customer Service we provide throughout the business. She also takes an interest in Sales & Marketing and has recently obtained her ISMM Level 2 Certificate in this area.
Emily really enjoys working in the friendly, family atmosphere FixFirm has to offer; and feels she has learnt so much in her first 10 months from colleagues who have worked for the company for over 30 years.
In her spare time, Emily enjoys cooking and her favourite chefs are Jamie Oliver and Donna Hay. She also likes to sing with her favourite artist being Adele.
Meet Alan Cooper – Customer Services Advisor at FixFirm…
Alan has worked at FixFirm for 40 years and is currently our longest serving employee!
He is currently a member of the Customer Services team looking after incoming enquiries - due to his vast knowledge and experience, Alan also offers specialist product advice and technical support.
After starting as an Mechanical & Electrical Engineer as an Apprentice for Retford based business Babcock Jenkins, Alan worked there for 7 years before moving to FixFirm in 1977.
Alan has also worked at FixFirm as a Delivery Driver, Warehouse Operative and Field Sales Manager, so is familiar with all areas of the business.
In his spare time Alan is a keen follower of Nottingham Forest F.C and holds a season ticket. He is also a keen traveller and likes to visit abroad regularly.
FixFirm Obtain Environmental Status ISO 14001:2015 (July 2017)
FixFirm are pleased to announce that we have been certified for the Environmental Management Standard ISO 14001:2015 for the first time since our formation in 1971.
This standard highlights the fact that we, as a business, can demonstrate to our suppliers and customers that we take the environment seriously in our every day processes.
The business was audited by the European Quality Assurance in February 2017 with the accreditation given in April of this year.
Going forward FixFirm will concentrate on upkeeping environmental procedures and will make sure that everything possible is done to operate in a continued sustainable manner.
Speaking about the new attained standard, Craig Haughton, Managing Director, states:-
‘Our customers and all other stakeholders can have the assurance that FixFirm has been certified by an accredited agency to an international standard on how we manage our environmental impacts.& This is now embodied in our operating processes and will be periodically audited to this high standard’
FixFirm's Environmental Policy certificate can be downloaded from our downloads page
Upgrade of IT Systems (July 2017)
FixFirm has recently invested in a full upgrade of our IT systems with a new, more powerful server, Office 365 programs, new backups and the latest version of our stock control system.
Following the successful implementation over the last 2-3 months, this means we can process customer requests faster and give you a quicker response to your enquiries.
The new system is also enabling us to manage stocks better so we have the products you need available when you need them. The backup systems are a far superior cover for the possible event of any part of the IT infrastructure going down and will allow us to serve you with minimal disruption if anything does happen.
We are excited about these improvements and feel confident it enables us to be up to date and serve our valued customers at a better level than before.
FixFirm continue to support the UK Apprentices Scheme (July 2017)
This year will see the continuation of FixFirm offering new opportunities to college leavers with the introduction of two new Apprenticeships in Business Administration and Warehousing and Storage (Level 2).
The new apprentice positions reflect the recent business growth and success, which has led to an increased need for administrative support (through all areas of the business) as well as the need to send our more products from our Lincoln-based Distribution Centre.
FixFirm strongly believe in investing and developing young people through UK apprenticeships, and have offered roles within sales, customer service, accounts and the warehouse over the past 4 years.
Our last successful Apprenticeship completion was as recent as December 2016 - Kristie Taylor now works for the business on a full-time basis as an Account Assistant having completed her NVQ Level 2 in Business Administration.
Should anyone like to be considered for a future apprenticeship at FixFirm, then please email careers@fixfirm.com.
Careers
Working at Fixfirm
Fixfirm is an established and respected company. Working here means being employed by a progressive construction and industry supply leader. The customer is at the centre of everything we do and our employees are committed to making every contact with Fixfirm a remarkable and outstanding experience. Exceptionally high standards of quality customer service are key for us.
In addition to our customers being of great importance to us, Fixfirm is committed to taking care of its employees. It’s because we know that our people are our most important asset through which we can achieve our business goals. Every person in our company is expected to make a significant contribution to their team, and they are rewarded fairly for their hard work and contribution.
Fixfirm is recognised for its progressive and innovative programmes and for maintaining a stimulating working environment.
If you want to be considered to work for the Fixfirm team, email your Curriculum Vitae details to careers@fixfirm.com.
History
Way back on 1st September, 1971, our founder Mr Roger Haughton set up Fixfirm in Retford, Nottinghamshire. The idea was to have a family business that would provide income and employment for Roger’s four sons. It was based on the rapid delivery of products to the construction and engineering industries. At the centre of the business was great customer service with speed and no-frills prices.
Over the years the business grew and changed location several times until it moved to purpose built premises in Lincoln in 1990, which is where it is still located today.
In 2000 the company split into two industry-focused sectors: Fixfirm Fittings (now called Formed UK www.formed-uk.com) becoming the joinery division and Fixfirm continued as the construction supply division.
The business has a very similar market focus today although the product ranges have expanded significantly through the years.
On the 6th April 2012 Fixfirm changed from trading as a Partnership to being a limited company.
Roger’s dream of a family business was a success and now the company is largely managed by Bill, Tim, Craig and Jerry Haughton with Roger taking a more advisory role.
