Crafting specialist materials sustainably to achieving zero waste to landfill.
80 year old manufacturing heritage
Howard Brothers is a specialist materials manufacturer based in Battle, East Sussex. Established in 1938, the company combines advanced CNC technology with traditional craftsmanship to produce bespoke metalwork, refined stone, specialist glass, tailored upholstery, and solid timber products, all crafted under one roof. The business works across commercial, residential, and heritage sectors and is recognised for its strong sustainability commitments, including achieving zero waste to landfill and the early adoption of biomass heating.
From traditional joinery to complete design-led fit-out packages their work supports leading architects, designers, and contractors on landmark buildings, corporate headquarters, and exceptional homes.
Challenge diagnostic
Faced with common challenges of a growing business in a rapidly change environment, operations director Tim Hedges reached out to Ambition to Action seeking support.
Howard Brothers worked with Business Adviser Kerry Byott, who provided structured growth sessions to help clarify their expansion plans and resource needs. They were introduced to digital diagnostic tools; GrowthCanvas and GROWTHmapper, which supported in strategic planning and challenge identification.
Business challenges identified:
- As a business that relies on high-skilled craftsmen (joiners, metalworkers, upholsterers), difficulty in hiring and retaining talent is an ongoing issue.
- Supply chain issues where their projects involve multiple materials of timber, metal, stone, glass can mean delays in sourcing and managing subcontractors.
- How to embed innovation in their complex manufacturing processes
A key intervention in these sessions was to introduce a manufacturing review aimed at identifying one high-impact efficiency improvement and address workflow bottlenecks, common in growing manufacturing businesses.
This resulted in Kerry making an introduction with the University of Essex, where their Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) team is providing specialist collaboration opportunities in manufacturing efficiency, digital transformation, and process optimisation.
In addition, the programme funded several hours of specialist support from an experienced manufacturing consultant. This focused intervention provided an external, objective review of production workflows, resource allocation and operational bottlenecks. The consultant worked with the leadership team to identify practical, high-impact efficiency improvements that could be implemented in the short to medium term. Although limited in duration, this targeted support helped prioritise actions, strengthen internal decision-making and build confidence in the company’s approach to scaling its manufacturing operations.
Benefits of the Support
Through the expertise from Business Adviser Kerry, specialist diagnostic tools and potential KTP collaboration, the company gained greater clarity around digital transformation opportunities, improved process efficiency, and a more strategic approach to managing growth and diversification.
As a result of engaging with Ambition to Action, Howard Brothers anticipate company growth, of increasing its workforce by 2 employees and an expected increase in turnover of £200k.
“Howard Brothers is a fantastic example of how traditional manufacturing businesses can embrace innovation. Through structured diagnostics, we identified clear opportunities to improve workflow efficiency and support long-term growth. The introduction to the University of Essex KTP team provides a practical route to embed digital transformation while protecting the craftsmanship at the heart of the business.
Wider Benefit for the East Sussex Economy
Improved resilience and growth within a heritage manufacturer supports the broader East Sussex economy through local supply chains, project delivery for major regional developments, and continued investment in sustainable manufacturing practices.
Howard Brothers also contributes to sustaining skilled employment within the region, particularly in those highly skilled craftsmanship specialist roles.
