A FIVE-DECADE-OLD family business in St Asaph that employs 30 people is planning a "major" expansion after doubling its turnover.

TG Williams, the building contractor founded by Trevor George Williams in 1971, says the improvement is largely down to staff training and has urged other businesses in Denbighshire to get in on the action.

Trevor's son, Gary, has been involved in the business for 20 years and took over as managing director in 2016, with the pair now working together to choose the best location for the expansion.

Last year, Gary, dad-of-two, graduated from a Bangor University business leadership course, the ION Leadership Programme, which he says has helped the family business go from strength to strength, reinvesting profits back into the company, employing staff and winning new clients in the private and public sectors.

He said that the course helped him to build his confidence and instil a more strategic managerial approach which has led to the surge in turnover.

Gary said: “When I left school, I enrolled at college to become a quantity surveyor, but the lure of joining the family business and having some money in my pocket meant I never managed to complete my qualifications. I started at the bottom and have worked my way up, learning all of the trades and working side by side with many of the people I now lead.

“Together we now have plans to protect the reputation my father has built up over the decades.

“We have around 30 employees on-site and in the office, but that doesn’t include the many sub-contractors we work with."

Gary is urging other directors and managers to sign up to the university programme - which is aimed at organisations in North West Wales and offers placements subsidised by up to 70 per cent by the Welsh Government's European Social Fund - in order to train their workers because "there are not the skilled tradespeople out there" that there needs to be.

Speaking about his experience of the course, Gary said: “I felt it would be good for me personally to learn more about management to take the company forward.

"I was a little nervous at first but came out of it feeling more confident; even just sitting down and speaking to like-minded people in similar roles was very useful and I’m still in touch with many of the people I was on the course with.

“We have the contracts and potential to take on far more staff, but there are not the skilled tradespeople out there – there is a massive shortfall.

“That’s why training is important to us, in all areas of the business. ION has played a big part in improving my skills and vision as managing director, but we are looking at sharpening the skills and education of all our workers, for their development and the company’s.”

He added: “We were expanding fast and wanted to expand further, and the lessons I learnt as part of ION will enable me to manage our direction.

Gary said that following the programme the business has "grown quite rapidly, which is amazing" but refuses to expand "at the expense of the caring side of the business", which it is known for because of the drive and determination of his dad.

He added: “I’ve a vision for where I want us to be, my dad has a very good name and I’m now the custodian of that reputation and I won’t ever forget that.”

Gwenllian Owen, programme manager of the ION Leadership programme, says the access to business information and advice via the course content and a series of top-level industry speakers has played a part in the growth of many firms across the region.

She added: “It’s fantastic to hear about the success of TG Williams. He is one graduate who really immersed himself in the programme and came out of it a more confident and driven business leader.

“We wish him every success for the future and look forward to seeing their exciting plans for growth come to fruition.”

For more information about TG Williams visit their website. For more about Bangor University's ION Leadership programme visit www.ionleadership.co.uk