Nigel Hockin is the owner and founding partner of GBS Joinery based in Edgeley in Stockport. We get to meet Nigel here as he tells his story about GBS Joinery’s humble beginnings and the passion that drives his success:
As Featured in Cheshire Life Magazine
After ten years of bench work Nigel Established the business in 1984 at the age of 27 as a sole trader working from a small garage at home before taking on a small workshop in Poynton from a retired builder. After three years he took on David as an apprentice and moved to larger rented premises in Hazel Grove, bringing in more machinery and taking on more staff. Purchasing the current six thousand square foot units in Edgeley in 2006 when the company converted to an LLP .
It all began in my garage at home. After 10 years of bench work, in 1984, at the age of 27, I decided to start my own business. Working out of my garage didn’t exactly sit well with the neighbours! Before long, I upgraded to a double garage behind a funeral director’s in Hazel Grove. It was a small and basic workshop in Poynton – but this marked the start of something much bigger. After three years, I took on David as an apprentice and we moved to larger rented premises in Hazel Grove. With more machinery and taking on more staff, GBS Joinery soon outgrew those premises and we purchased the curent six thousand square foot units in Edgeley in 2006, when the company converted to an LLP.
In 2024, GBS Joinery celebrated its 40th anniversary, and it has been a wonderful opportunity to reflect on our humble beginnings. I’m incredibly proud of our dedicated and loyal team who have made this journey so rewarding. Together, we’ve built a reputation for exceptional craftsmanship and customer service, which has always been at the heart of what we do.
Without a doubt, it’s the people and places. I get to meet some truly wonderful people and hear their stories. It’s also a privilege to travel around the country and see a wide variety of homes—from charming Victorian terraces to grand, sprawling villas.
Surviving two recessions and a global pandemic rank as my biggest achievement. There were moments I thought we were finished, especially when the lockdowns forced us to close. Working from home actually helped me find some peace and quiet to focus, and surprisingly, the phone and emails went crazy. It seemed like everyone wanted a new front door! After lockdown, we had a six-month order book, which soon stretched to twelve months. I was genuinely amazed by the level of support from our customers.
It’s not a single individual, but rather the incredible people I meet along the way. Many of them are facing personal battles—whether in their businesses or health—yet still manage to tackle ambitious house renovation projects or run successful businesses. Their resilience is truly inspiring.
The best advice I ever received was to not try and do everything myself. Focus on what you do well and trust others to handle the rest—whether it’s accounting, HR, health and safety, or risk assessments. It’s about recognizing your strengths and delegating the rest to experts.
Front doors are definitely having a moment right now! Everyone seems ready to upgrade, moving away from UPVC and composite options. A new front door can completely transform a home’s curb appeal, especially when made from materials like Accoya, which offers both stability and a range of stylish designs and paint colours.
Based in Stockport Cheshire we are happy to meet new customers and travel throughout neighbouring counties, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, to offer supply and installation, outside this area we can supply only.
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