In 1973, S&D was launched and originated as a family-run business in Somerset, specialising in the supply and application of sealants. Now, the business is celebrating its 50th birthday as one of the UK’s largest repair and sealant companies, with nine offices across England, Scotland and Wales.
Business Growth
Since its humble beginnings, the business has grown from being a small, family-run sealant- provider to a large-scale team of sealant experts, cosmetic repair technicians, insurance repairers, marine interiors specialists, and now an all-new academy for apprentices.
Managing Director, Nick Jones has commented on the impressive milestone:
“We are delighted to be celebrating 50 years of business. We pride ourselves on taking care of customers and the community that we have built over the years. The time has flown by and it’s great to see how far the business has come since its start in 1973.
“As we move forward, we don’t intend to rest on our laurels. We have big plans to develop our business throughout the UK and even into Europe We are actively expanding our presence across the world – from new offices to Caribbean marine repairs and will continue to scale up production to meet the demands of our clients.
“In line with this, we plan to continue investing in recruitment to further build our teams and will continue to offer a first-class service to a growing number of customers.”
Nick added, “Thank you to our staff and clients who have been brilliant since the start. We look forward to celebrating the 50-year achievement by giving recognition to our long-standing team members, taking a sustainability pledge and much more.”
Some achievements over the years
- Developing divisions and departments
From originally specialising in the supply and fit of sealants under the name S&D Sealants, Nick Jones expanded the business in 2013 by adding cosmetic repairs to its portfolio. Since then, the service has taken off, significantly contributing to the business’s continued success.
It was a couple of years later that SD recognised that its cosmetic repairs skills would be perfect for the cruise industry. As a result, SD hired experienced marine interior professionals to help develop the very successful Marine Sector Division, which covers both repairs and refitting.
But it didn’t stop there! In 2020, SD identified an opportunity to expand its services into insurance repairs and launched ‘SD Claims’. This service is available UK-wide and includes a two-year warranty rather than the industry-standard one-year guarantee.
So, what’s next? Very soon, SD will be launching its all-new training programme called ‘SD Academy’ which aims to develop necessary practical skills in complex surface repair. The academy will be based at its headquarters in Caldicot to conduct off-site classroom teaching at a time of skills and labour shortages in the construction industry.
- Growth in staff & projects
Since starting as a small family-run business, the team now stands at 200+, with plans to expand in 2023. The business understands that its staff are integral to its success and takes great care to ensure they are looked after. It offers training to those who’d like to develop skills on-site and provides opportunities to learn first-hand from its professional technicians.Overall, SD has estimated that they work on around 22,000 projects a year across a range of sectors including housing, hospitality, leisure, schools and more. Some of the most memorable projects include working on the Orient Express, boats on the Thames, the Tollcross International Swimming Pool, Hinkley Point, Wrexham FC, Goodwood Racecourse and so many more.
SD trains all of its own staff and encourages each one to develop their depth of knowledge and establish a rewarding career. It’s constantly on the lookout for new products and services, with a drive towards environmental quality in everything they use.
- Raising awareness for environmental issues
SD believe it’s everyone’s responsibility and duty to reduce, reuse and recycle wherever possible and it has been working hard to help businesses towards a greener, cheaper and more efficient alternative to replacing interiors.
The company launched its initiative ‘repair, don’t replace’ which encourages businesses to consider greener alternatives. As an industry leader in cosmetic repair, SD intends to set the bar high and ensure that its trained technicians offer only the best service in sustainable restoration even to the most heavily damaged items. This approach has been extremely successful and led to many businesses becoming recurring clients.
- Supporting & sponsoring incredible sporting talent
SD has been an avid follower of cycling in Wales. SD Teams got involved with Welsh Cycling back in 2015 and from there, the partnership has continued to develop in strength. Having supported individual cyclists in the past, SD is aware of the sacrifices, hard work and determination that this sport demands.We are incredibly proud to be the main corporate supporter of Wales Racing Academy. The Academy leads on from the existing Youth and Junior programmes to continue developing cyclists to further prepare and support them for the world of professional cycling.
As well as the cycling team, SD has sponsored the Leicestershire based Team Parker Racing for 8 years. The motorsport team continues to be branded with the SD Teams logo and colours, with the success of the crew increasing year after year.
Team Parker Racing has previously competed in Formula Vauxhall Junior, British Formula 3, and, more recently, in the British Touring Car Championship, where it is a race-winner. It also competes in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB and Caterham.
Everything we’ve achieved over the last fifty years has all played a part in making SD the company that it is today. We’re so proud of these accomplishments and we are eternally grateful to the excellent team members we’ve had working with us for over five decades – they have been instrumental in driving the business forward and we look forward to seeing what’s next!
