About – Hazlin of Ludlow Ltd.

The Family Business

Half A Century Of Excellence

Since the company’s incorporation in 1974, starting as a small joinery shop supplying historic buildings in Herefordshire, Hazlin of Ludlow Ltd has moved on to be a leading UK manufacturer of project bespoke, architecturally designed door assemblies, panels, and associated joinery to the construction industry.

Hazlin has developed its business by offering exceptional support & service to its customers. Hazlin also use the latest technologies and materials available, adapting to regulatory developments to ensure we satisfy the changing needs of our customers and the wider industry.

This proactive and agile approach has ensured we have stayed at the forefront of door and joinery manufacturing. We continue to supply high quality, fully compliant products now into our 50th year.

The Founders

Hazlin Construction Ltd was founded by Colin Jones in April 1974. However, Colin did not start out in the world of joinery and construction, he was in fact trained and qualified in his own grandfather’s family business – Jones’ Dairy in Mumbles, South Wales.

As that business became more successful an additional dairy was purchased in Hereford and it was at this point Colin Jones moved his wife Hazel, and family to run this branch of the business.

Eventually the dairy was sold and Colin changed career direction and bought a hotel in Hereford called The Regency. The hotel became busy and in April 1974 Hazlin Construction Ltd was formed so that the family could have full control of the project planning and construction on the property.

To further assist with this project Colin formed a partnership with local architect Hugo Mason in order to complete the venture. Subsequent to the success of this project, Hazlin Construction went on to carry out works on historic properties throughout Herefordshire, many with Hugo.

Hazlin Construction Ltd went on to be a successful company in its own right. Colin set up a workshop near Woofferton in Shropshire to provide all the joinery work for the construction company. By 1979 the company had outgrown the premises at Woofferton, and moved to its present site at Station Works, Bromfield, near Ludlow, where it continued to trade as Hazlin Of Ludlow Ltd.

Hazel, returned to teaching, becoming head of the Infant department at Moor Park School, near Ludlow.

Managing Director

Director

Business Manager

Christopher Jones, Managing Director

Chris was educated at Belmont Abbey School in Hereford. Whilst at school Chris developed a passion for rowing, only narrowly missing out on representing Great Britain as a junior.

After school Chris moved to London to attend South Bank Polytechnic where he studied Building Administration. Part of the course involved a 6-month site placement as an assistant site engineer with Wates Construction, building a new tower block in the city of London for Baring Brothers Bank. On further projects for Wates Chris then worked as a site quantity surveyor.

Whilst studying for his degree, rowing became a big passion. Starting in 1977, Chris joined Leander Club in Henley on Thames. Rowing has been a huge part of his life through both competing and coaching.

Rowing has been my lifelong passion

Our 1979 winning Leander Crew, doing a celebratory row over at Henley Royal Regatta in 2019 marking the 40th Anniversary row of our wining crew.

In our 8, 4 of us competed for Great Britain at the World Rowing Championships. Two won Olympic Silver in 1980, Andrew Holmes who died 24/10/2010, won 2 Olympic Golds with Steve Redgrave in Los Angeles (1984) & Seoul (1988).

Whilst studying for my degree, rowing became a big passion. I joined Leander Club in Henley on Thames in the winter of 1977, being in the second eight until summer, seat racing when I made the stroke seat of the eight. We lost the final in 1978 of the Thames Cup at Henley Royal Regatta, but the following year in 1979, we won it!

In 1980, the eight I was in was broken up & two from the crew went to the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

I was then part of a coxed 4 that won the Britannia Cup at Henley Royal Regatta.

At the start of winter in 1980, I went to row at Kingston Rowing Club, primarily because the national squad was nothing like it is today.

In 1981, I was in a coxless pair that won the Silver Nichols & Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta & went on to represent Great Britain at the 1981 World Championships finishing 9^th in the world.

In 1982, I made the Great Britain National Team but in the coxless four, finishing 9^th again. In 1983, was in the 8, and raced in the World Rowing Championships. I picked up a back injury (a common complaint for rowers). In 1984, I was again in the Olympic Squad but failed to make the team in the last seat racing session before the team flew to training camp in July 1984. I stopped serious training after 1984, and got involved in coaching, but time & career needed to take a start.

I competed a couple of years later in the 1986 Commonwealth Games for Wales in the coxless pair. However 6 weeks prior to the games I was ill and was only able to compete finishing 6^th. When I moved back to Ludlow, rowed again at Hereford & helped coach juniors at various levels.

As you can see, rowing has been a large part of my life!

After gaining his degree he continued to work with Wates before joining a specialist joinery company, Andrew Murray Joinery Limited, part of Kyle Stewart. In 1987, Chris went into partnership with two fellow quantity surveyors, providing freelance site services.

In 1992, Chris left London to join Hazlin, taking over from his father Colin Jones upon his retirement. This was somewhat of a culture shock as the nearest supermarket in London was at the bottom of his road, however in his new village location it was 45 minutes away by car!

At this stage Hazlin was a small specialist veneering company. Chris sought opportunities to progress the business by seeking out experienced new staff from within the industry, investing in new software and machinery to service the new requirements from these opportunities.

Chris was fully hands on during this period doing everything from estimating a job, working on the shop floor, to deliveries in the Hazlin van. In April 1992, turnover was around £400k p.a, to now £8.2m.

If you asked Chris what rowing and sport has taught him he would say “resilience, and results only come from hard work & effort put in. Be respectful of others and listen”. From his arrival in 1992 he has and continues to maintain this philosophy at Hazlin.

Caroline Cade, Director

Had anyone asked Caroline when she was at school what she wanted to do – absolutely it was to work with horses. However, career advisers were not really interested in the late 1970’s and suggested teaching, nursing or hairdressing.

Caroline left Ludlow Secondary School, and decided the most useful option was a secretarial course at Ludlow College. After a year on the course there was an opportunity to do work experience with Dad, Colin, at Hazlin Construction Ltd. Five decades later Caroline is still at Hazlin! As Caroline herself says, “Hazlin is, and always will be, a passion that runs right through me”.

Caroline worked with her dad Colin until he retired in 1992. At this stage brother Chris came into the business when he took over as the Managing Director. A few of adjustments had to be made as Chris and her dad had very different characters, but she adapted and has worked very successfully with both.

Caroline has worked within every department of the business during its growth. From factory, helping where needed in order to meet deadlines to sales office, production and buying. In fact, the only thing Caroline hasn’t done is make deliveries in the lorry. With this experience it has given her a great understanding of how the business works in order to support and help members of the team at Hazlin.

These days Caroline heads up the Accounts Department and she has spent the last 25 years in this role. Her father Colin always told her to look after her suppliers, his motto was “You are only as good as the suppliers you use”. Caroline has continued with this philosophy, “As a family business Hazlin are always open and honest with their supply chain”.

By the way Caroline never lost that passion for riding horses and continues to do so to this day.

TOMOS JONES, Business manager

Tomos joined Hazlin in 2019 as Business Manager from an academic background after researching Materials Chemistry and gaining his Bachelors and Master’s Degrees from the University of Reading.

Tomos is responsible for the executive leadership and day-to-day management of Hazlin to ensure that the company strategy is executed with his strong analytical skills and deep commitment to continuous improvement. He is particularly interested in the technical aspect of the fire door industry and how this relates to UK Law. He believes that there is huge scope for improvement to legislation surrounding the industry and is passionate about raising the bar, with Hazlin being at the forefront.

As an avid board and computer game enthusiast Tomos is always up to date with the latest trends in the gaming world, whether it be the newest releases, emerging technology, or a good old-fashioned tabletop game. Beyond the gaming world, Tomos enjoys the peace and tranquillity of living in the South Shropshire countryside, conveniently located in between Hazlin’s two factory sites. On the weekends he can often be found mowing the lawn on his favourite gadget – the ride on lawnmower – or keeping his pampered flock of chickens happy.

In 2022 Tomos welcomed the latest addition to the family business with a newborn son. He is taking fatherhood in his stride and spends most of his free time teaching his little one about the UK timber industry!

The Family Business

Half A Century Of Excellence

The Founders

Christopher Jones

Caroline Cade

Tomos Jones

Christopher Jones, Managing Director

Caroline Cade, Director

TOMOS JONES, Business manager

Why choose Hazlin?

Highly trained & skilled operatives

Over 40 years of heritage & industry experience

A reputation for high standards & superior quality

Industry-leading machinery & workshop

Dedicated & highly responsive customer service

BM Trada Q-Mark accredited

Our own delivery fleet, dispatching nationwide