Keeping a business in the family is as challenging as it is rewarding. Working with your family can be incredibly tough but equally wonderful.
The UK’s many independent businesses are the backbone of the country in many ways. And we want to celebrate the family businesses particularly – the ones started by someone’s parent or grandparent and still run by the family many years later.
One such business is Klick Technology, a specialist in Laboratory Furniture and fit out founded in 1981 by Len Whitehurst.
The company, now well into its 40s, started life known for supplying computer trolleys for schools. Fast forward the best part of half a century, and Klick is now known for complex laboratory fit outs both in schools and in industry.
Let’s look at the story of Klick Technology so far:
Company Milestones
- 23rd November 1981: Company founded by Len Whitehurst specialising in shelving
- January 1984 – company moves to much bigger premises following rapid expansion and now celebrates having 5000 square feet. At this time, John Walker joins the company as packing staff. 40 years later he remains at the company as warehouse manager
- 1985 – the company moves into its purpose build premises at Claverton Road, doubling its space
- 1992 – Klick achieves National Quality Assurance Certificate BS5750/ISO9001
- 1996 – Klick Technology undertakes a really significant lab fit out project at Holly Lodge Girls’ School, Liverpool
- 1997 – Jonathan Whitehurst joins the family business as a company director
- 1998 – Klick first launches its website – some way ahead of many other businesses as crazy at that might seem today!
- 2002 – Klick successfully completed a significant scale laboratory fitout at Greenwich University which really was the accelerator that started Klick’s expansion into supplying commercial laboratories and universities
- 2002 – Jonathan Whitehurst becomes Managing Director and Len Whitehurst becomes Chairman
- 2014 – significant updates to branding and offering to reflect the expansion in the decade prior. Branding now reflects all of the Education, Healthcare and Commercial Sector work Klick undertakes
2021 – Klick converted an empty warehouse shell into diagnostic testing labs, breakout spaces and offices for life science innovators: Biofortuna Ltd. This significant project demonstrated Klick’s experience in specialist laboratory fit out, understanding exactly how critical this project was for Biofortuna and delivering it to the brief and exceeding their expectations.
- 2023 they completed a construction project for AFC Energy which involved converting an aircraft hanger into state-of-the-art labs, enabling the client to expand their work into the research of hydrogen fuel cells.
Family Values and Long Standing Staff
Businesses started by individuals and then taken over by children and other family members will often discuss family values and their position as a family business.
And it only takes a quick look at the length of service of many of the staff within the business to know that this definitely not just talk at Klick. With some staff there for more years than today’s University Graduates have been alive, that’s quite some testament to morale, company values and keeping your people happy.
A solid example of a thriving family run businesses in the North of England.
