WRITTEN BY DAVID, MARK & DARREN COLEMAN
COLEMAN & COMPANY OUR STORY
Founders – John & Norah Coleman
FOREWARD On 16th October 1962 my parents, John and Norah Coleman incorporated Coleman & Company (Plant Hire) Limited. They had been in business since the late 1940s, capitalising on various opportunities as they presented themselves. From buying the first lorry, loading and unloading by hand shovel, to providing general transport, Coleman & Company has grown into a multi million pound, award winning business with blue chip clients that operates in multiple markets across the UK. It is quite a remarkable story. To celebrate our 50th Anniversary we wanted to share this story. This book aims to do that. Creating the book has involved hours of searching though boxes of photos that had long been stored away, sifting through old trade journals, contacting industry friends and watching hours of cine film. Unfortunately the early photographs of the pre and post Nationalisation in 1953 are not available. These would have complemented the story that illustrates the development of the business from its foundations to the organisation as it is seen today. To structure our story we’ve divided the book into decades. During the 1960s
the business became an established demolition and excavation contractor whilst the 1970s saw our business expand into higher profile projects and move into the Stechford Depot. The 1980s were characterised by family bereavement and a fireball explosion that ripped through the heart of our Stechford depot. As we progressed through the 1990s my eldest son, Mark, joined the business and we continued to grow with prestigious projects becoming increasingly common place. With the new Millennium the pace of change, development and progression continued in the form of our move to our new premises at Shady Lane and even higher profile national projects. When I think back to the formative years of Coleman & Company I do wonder if my parents ever envisaged that Coleman & Company would grow to the size and stature it has. It is with great pride and satisfaction that I can write the Foreword for this book to celebrate our 50th Anniversary. I’d like to think my parents would feel exactly the same way.
DAVID COLEMAN - MIDE GROUP CHAIRMAN, COLEMAN & COMPANY LTD
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1991
1995 Hams Hall Power Station Demolition & Land Reclamation
1993 Mark Coleman started employment at Coleman & Co (Plant Hire) Ltd
1986 First Mobile Crusher operated in Birmingham
Full corporate members of the National Federation of Demolition Contractors
1984
a petition WAS raised attempting to ban the ‘Maggies’ from the roads of Sutton Coldfield
1988 Death of Co - founder Nora Frances Coleman
1988 Processing of excavated material recycling into certified aggregates
1966 David Coleman becomes share holding Director
1970
Explosion at Station Road
1979 Purchase of the first CAT 225 Excavators into the UK
Coleman & Company are incorporated and start trading from Albert Road, Stechford
1969 Purchased first Fleet of Maggie Deutz Tippers
1996 First High Demolition of Tower Block with CAT 350
1984 Death of Co - founder John EdMUND Coleman
1974 Moved to Station Road- Purchased Freehold
1962
1964 BECOME Members of The Road Haulage Association
1962 ALBERT ROAD Good welfare was a roof that didn’t leak!
THE COLEMAN & COMPANY BRAND A small number of core values lie at the heart of all great brands. These values symbolise what the business stands for, represents what it believes in and guides decision making. When John and Norah Coleman started J.E. Coleman (very first trading company) it is unlikely formal brand building was a high priority. The immediate challenge was to make a living. During these formative years John and Norah’s business decisions were guided by personal values based on trust, honesty, integrity, family care and strong working relationships. Little did they know these values would provide the foundations for a Coleman brand focused on being diligent, inquisitive, collaborative, commercial, sincere and societally aware 50 years later. The importance of leading the business in a way that is consistent with these values has been acknowledged by members of the Coleman family that have followed in Jack and Norah’s footsteps. These values lie at the heart of everything David and Mark do at Coleman from recruitment and induction through to tender submission and commercial reviews. Over the past 50 years Coleman & Company has enjoyed a period of sustained growth and success. National expansion, a host of blue chip clients,
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high profile contracts and numerous industry accolades illustrate this point. This success is a testimony to the values Jack and Nora built Coleman on. Being true to these values has allowed the business to thrive and flourish. Adhering to these values has made good business sense. This book shares the Coleman story. It outlines how the brand has evolved and been shaped by achievement, adversity, key contracts and most importantly its people. Ironically, the evolutionary nature of the Coleman brand only serves to increase the brand’s appeal. It adds credibility, authenticity and enriches the brand story. That story is told here. Our Business Statement:
Coleman & Company are MARKET LEADERS IN THE PROVISION OF DEMOLITION AND ASSOCIATED SPECIALIST SERVICES TO Blue Chip, high profile companies, public sector organisations and strategic partnerships BY A highly skilled, experienced team, delivering best practice at all times.
“They have demonstrated a strong willingness to listen and respond to issues raised and overall I would rate the performance of the company and its employees as first-class.”
THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT COLEMAN & COMPANY... John & Nora Coleman were both from Ireland, John from Fermoy, Cork and Nora from Castlebar, County Mayo, met in Birmingham and married in 1940. David Coleman was only with us because of a lucky break! Playing football he broke his leg which resulted in the loss of his apprenticeship at the Cincinnati. Mark Coleman’s first full time job was washing up at the Four Oaks Carvery, before moving out to work for Henry Boot Construction. Ultimate proof we can work with anyone – we now have both Blues, Villa and Baggies fans sitting on the board of Directors. We project managed all aspects of the design, procurement & construction of our HQ & Urban Quarry at Shady Lane valued at £6 million in 2005. We now employ 158 people based throughout the UK, with employment stretching as far as New Zealand. We have demolished some 10,000 or more structures, 300 tower blocks of, which 50 have been blow downs. Mark Coleman’s first demolition project that he secured & managed was a toilet block in a cemetery for Sandwell Council for the total sum of £450.00 less provisional sums!
Simon Kimberley Chief Executive Optima Community Association
We have recycled some 10,000,000 tonnes of demolition and excavated material throughout the UK. David Coleman was a Councillor for Birmingham City Council in 1975 for 4 years. On our 50th Anniversary 16.10.2012 we are proud to say we are holders of the prestigious Contract of the Year for the World Demolition Awards 2011-2012.
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Coleman & Company in the Sixties
1962 ALBERT ROAD OFFICE Nora Coleman at work.
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1964 Thames Trader & TK Bedford 4 wheelers
1966 Bedford Low loader
No air suspension in these seats...
15 ton pay load.
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At the age of 16 I broke my leg playing football. As a result my initial career choice in engineering at the Cincinnati was lost. My father then suggested (forcibly) that I join him in the family business David & Michael Coleman
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1965 The Ball & Chain Early days of innovation.
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1965 Bullring Birmingham Clearing the Bullring in 1965 laid foundations for the future.
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1967 Bayston Hill Quarry Shrewsbury David Coleman and the tea lady (some things don’t change).
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MY FIRST VEHICLE WAS A VAN, A MINI THAT I PAID £35 FOR AT BIRMINGHAM AUCTIONS, THEN CAME THE FORD anglia VAN USED FOR TRANSPORT & ACCOMmoDATION. My first car 1968, The classic Ford Cortina 1600e at a hefty £1,008 - Hard work pays David Coleman
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1969 Whittington Barracks, Lichfield The alternative to the ball and chain…wire rope.
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Coleman & Company in the SEVENTIES
1970 Fleet of Magirus Deutz 6 x 6 dump trucks Gracechurch Centre, Sutton Coldfield.
1970 Home Office Maureen, Nora and John Coleman.
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1970 Caterpillar 225 Site Clearance in Oldbury under the watchful eye of Pat Maloney.
1971 Atkinson Low Loader 32 tonne pay load carrying O&K RH6 and Caterpillar 955F. Right: David Coleman’s first purchase.
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1974 Station Road, Stechford Growth inspired investment.
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1974 Pay Review Conditions attached!
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1976 Mark Coleman
1976 first HAULAGE advert
Mark training from an early age (just like dad!).
The marketing machine is born.
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1976 Carefour, Minworth After the snow of the first June. Old school muck shifting.
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Early memories...living in a caravan on a Laing site in Bristol. My first attempt at loading a lorry didn’t go well, DAVID was not pleased, as a result I was confined to the caravan. the summer of 1977 remains one of the hottest on record MARK Coleman
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1979 Leyland 16Ft skip lorry Another string to the bow.
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1979 LETTER TO COMPANY ACCOUNTANTS Still writing these types of letters today. A trait passed from generation to generation!
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Coleman & Company in the eighties
1980 40th Wedding Anniversary John and Norah celebrate.
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1980 A38 Burton-on-Trent Maggie Deutz been loaded by Liebherr 942.
1983 Snowhill Station, Birmingham Demolition and earth moving then and more recently.
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AM POST * DEC 84 EVENING MAIL & BIRMINGH
1984 Explosion at head office A sad day at Coleman & Company.
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* 22.12.84 BIRMINGHAM MAIL
1984 one very sad day Death of co-founder John Edmund Coleman.
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1986 Station Road, Stechford New offices and workshop.
Coleman & Company in the nineties
1993 MARK COLEMAN JOINS THE BUSINESS After 5 years working at Henry Boot Construction.
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1996 HAMS HALL power station Land reclamation and demolition.
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1996 CAT 350 High Reach First high reach job - Baskerville House, Highgate, Birmingham.
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1996 Purchase of Meriden Quarry 27 acre site which recycles 300,000 tons per annum.
1997 highcroft hospital Demolition of psychiatric hospital Erdington.
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1997 Heavy Haulage MAN tractor unit Hauling our Cat 350 high reach between Coleman sites.
1998 BANBURY SHOPPING CENTRE Demolition, faรงade retention, land reclamation.
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1998 sainsburys Demolition of Sainsbury’s supermarket in Telford.
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Coleman & Company in the 21st century
2000 First Blow Down Optima housing association. Two 20 storey towers, Lee Bank, Birmingham.
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50 years of working with MY Father and then MY Son is, like being successful in business, challenging but rewarding
David Coleman The National Federation of Demolition Contractors, Chairman of the Midlands and Welsh Region 2002 101
2001 EAST NORTON VIADUCT The length of two football pitches, twelve storey’s height.
2002 Faรงade Retention Three different facades propped simultaneously.
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2002 company name change Purchased from Reckitt Benckiser.
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2003 Alma & Leys, Walsall Dismantling of two large panel tower blocks.
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Blowing the final whistle on Aston Villa’s Trinity Road Stand... one of Coleman’s more satisfying projects
David Coleman
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2003 Cobden House, Wolverhampton David Coleman, Kieran Conaty, Mark Coleman and Mark Carless.
2003 Lyng Estate, West Bromwich Triple Blowdown.
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2004 Trinity Court Willenhall Our 40m heavy duty Hitachi 850.
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2005 birmingham tornado Helping the community after the natural disaster.
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when clive anderson announced the winner, it took a few of us to agree that he had in fact said coleman & company. from that point on we felt many different emotions – relief, shock, excitement and most of all a feeling of great achievement
2005 contract journal Demolition Contractor of the Year.
MARK Coleman
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2005 Move to Shady Lane, Great Barr Our new HQ.
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2006 Shady Lane, Great Barr First urban quarry equipped with specialist washing plant.
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2005 / 2006 Birmingham Town Hall Internal temporary works and concrete removal.
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2006 New Volvo 8 Wheelers Cleaner more fuel efficient engines.
2007 St Mary’s Axe, City of London Demolition of the former Bank of Greece.
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2008 Westminster, London Demolition of Former GLC Offices.
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2008 Faรงade Retention and Demolition G1, Former Post Office HQ, Glasgow.
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2008 UK’s largest high reach DEMOLITION rig
2009 Royal Hospital, Wolverhampton
Coleman & Company purchase the UK’s largest high reach demolition rig with a 65.0m boom.
Temporary works and demolition.
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2009 birmingham international airport BIA International pier.
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2010 Ponders End, Enfield, London Gas Holder Demolition.
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2010 Maidenhead bridge A404 (M) Motorway bridge dismantling over high speed live rail lines into Central London.
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2009 / 2011 Birmingham New Street Craneage system installed above live station and beneath live shopping centre to remove 8000 tons of concrete.
2010 / 2011 New Street STATION World Demolition Awards - Contract of the Year 2011.
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2011 A new board of Directors are appointed
2011 Specialist Cutting Services is incorporated
The first time that directors have been appointed that are not family members. A clear intention of our strategic development.
Specialist diamond cutting contractor dealing with challenging projects as part of the Coleman Group or independently.
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2011 / 2012 famous Carter Designed Building “Dunston Rocket�Gateshead Demolition of the iconic 30 storey tower block and 58 properties surrounding the building.
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Just some of our key awards won over the last 50 years, from left to right... 2005 Birmingham Post 25 BesT Companies To Work For 2005 Building Award - Essential Site Services 2005 Building Award - Specialist Innovator 2005 Contract Journal Demolition Contractor of the Year 2006 Birmingham City Council Medium Projects Quality in Demolition (Winner) 2006 Constructions News - Demolition (Winner) 2006 Contract Journal Demolition Contractor of the Year 2006 Contract Journal Safety Award Silver Helmet 2011 / 2012 National Grid Best Project Documentation 2011 / 2012 National Grid - SHES Performance 2011 World Demolition Awards Civils Award (Winner) 2011 World Demolition Awards Contract of the Year (Winner)
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50 YEARS of CHARITY WORK Raising money in the community.
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FUTURE FORWARD I am proud to be a third generation Coleman working in the family business established in 1962, fifty years ago. I am also so very proud that I have had the opportunity to work with, and learn the ropes, with my father Dave. Working together we have achieved a huge amount, the strength of our relationship combined with shared ambitions for the company have been key to our success. Dave, I am forever grateful to you for giving me this fantastic opportunity - thank you. Coleman & Company is a true family company, in all senses. This is key to our relationship with our greatest asset, our employees. We trust people from day one, we look to form strong bonds, working closely together whether on a shovel or a broom, on a Blowdown, or around the boardroom table looking at strategy and blue skies. I intend to, and will, keep this core value at the heart of everything we do, ensuring that as our company progresses we will remain a family business in every way we conduct ourselves. Looking into the future I hope that my children will also rise to the challenge so they too can be proud to be part of the Coleman & Company legacy. As the construction industry continually evolves, it is rapidly becoming more sophisticated as more complex schemes are introduced to meet the demands of modern day life. Globalisation demands
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that our geographical presence continues to grow. With this rate of change we must, and will, maintain our policy to be ahead of the industry, to continue with significant investment programmes in our people and equipment, to develop new innovative methods, taking decisions that others do not. This policy of excellence is not an aspiration, it is a core value that can only be achieved by working with the best in the industry. As to the future I see Coleman & Company continuing to grow, diversifying into other sectors within the construction and related industries. We will continue to work with people who engage with us, respect our name and what it represents... trust, integrity and professionalism. Giving confidence that when they work with any part of the business quality is guaranteed, safety is a given and client requirements are key. We will build strategic partnerships with clients and other service providers to ensure that the challenges are dealt with by teams that deliver cost effective solutions. The last 50 years have been a great success for Coleman & Company I sincerely hope that I, and other generations to follow, can build on this to achieve even greater things in the next 50 years.
MARK COLEMAN - MCIOB MIDE AIExpE Managing Director, COLEMAN & COMPANY LTD
50 YEARS OF PROGRESS
STACKS OF BUILDINGS CLEARED
ACRES
OF GROUND BROKEN
HUNDREDS OF HAPPY CLIENTS
THOUSANDS OF HANDSHAKES
ONE GREAT TEAM
Shady Lane, Great Barr, Birmingham, West Midlands B44 9ER UK call +44 (0)121 325 2424 email contracts@coleman-co.com web www.coleman-co.com DESIGN BY ALILIA PUBLISHED 2012 C COPYRIGHT COLEMAN & COMPANY