Join us in our reflective look back on 2018 as we celebrated 40 years in business and look forward to 2019.
Company founder Dave Mitchell and his wife Heather were persuaded to be involved in a celebratory video of the groups journey from its humble beginnings in an old Potato shop in Truro to it progression and status as the South West’s go to glass supplier, a trusted, authoritative, specialist brand that still lives by the family values that were established in the early days.
Working collaboratively with Falmouth University’s School of Film & Television undergraduates we produced our anniversary video, which is now an important piece of our company archive and history.
Glass is what we are all about and producing bespoke units for the Grand Hotel Brighton refurbishment, creating a giant glass wall wine rack and the moving commemorative Poppy of Honour. Our Bristol Branch made it to the 02 (that’s a long way for us!) installing glass frontage and entrance doors. We of course continued to produce high volumes of glass units and specialist commissions throughout the West Country and beyond.
Investment in our vehicle fleet strengthened our distribution network with specialist glass carrying lorries and trucks regularly delivering direct to site. The installation of a new TEMA LPB 2536-4 Laminating oven at our Highbridge site gives the opportunity to produce in house, specialist, bespoke, laminated glass units to the market.
Along with the appointment of new colleagues throughout the year we also welcomed Charlie Chough our toughened glass, mascot, as he was brought to life. Cornish Choughs with their red bills and legs have been associated with the Duchy for hundreds of years. Our Charlie has been with us since 2003 when our first glass toughening plant opened in St Austell and we wanted a toughening stamp that reflected our high quality Chough Tough Glass. For anyone wanting to know more about these amazing Crows of Cornwall everything you need can be found her. http://www.cornishchoughs.org/choughs/ The Royal Cornwall Show saw Charlie Chough take part in his first Mascot race. We’ve decided to get him a personal trainer for next year.
For our Devonport branch relocation was the order of the day. Now servicing trade and retail customers from their Trade Counter at Plymouth which sites adjacent to our Plymouth Manufacturing site, they are going from strength to strength with instant access to the sites state of the art facilities customers and colleagues are reaping the benefits of this relocation. It was bon voyage to our Warminster Branch with some colleagues joining our sister company Mackenzie Glass and some choosing new and exciting paths. We wish them all the very best.
With our local communities never far from our thoughts we were delighted to have the opportunity to sponsor the Pirate FM 2018 Local Hero’s Awards. Category winners for “Inspiration to Others” and “Young Person of The Year” shared their stories which were humbling and inspirational.
Organised drop-in sessions throughout April, May and June in our local branches gave community groups the opportunity to apply for our awards of £400 for 40 Community Groups and Organisations across Cornwall. Working closely with the Cornwall Community Foundation our grants panel made up of colleagues and founding family members Cornwall Glass launched its ‘£400 for 40’ campaign at the beginning of this year. Grants were made from our Cornwall Glass Fund, which has now donated in excess of £80,000 to 115 community projects throughout Cornwall, since it was set up in 2009.
Reaching out to so many grass root groups and organisations the decision was made to grant to 48 of the 70 applicants. The £400 for 40 campaign culminated in a celebratory tea-party for awardees and colleagues in October which was kindly hosted by Barclays Business Bank in Truro where we met many of our grant recipients and forged relationships for the future helping each other.
It’s certainly been a challenging 12 months with the uncertainty of Brexit still hanging over the country as a hole we brace ourselves for more challenges ahead. Undaunted our Chairman Mark Mitchell always has words of wisdom and inspiration “this business gives me a real buzz. I do like a challenge. Investing in people, empowering and nurturing them to grow and show their potential that’s what I love…and always remember positivity is contagious”