“Business as usual... the story so far” Introduction On the 7th May 2015 T. M. Browne Ltd celebrates 30 successful years in business. The journey from husband and wife team to a limited company employing more than 50 people with an annual turnover of more than 8.5 million has not been an easy one – it wasn’t a linear progression. Like all businesses, T. M. Browne Ltd has encountered its share of ups and downs. However, because there have always been strong family bonds within the company and many of the workforce have been recruited from extended family and family friends, the growth of the business has been reassuring and steady. Traditional values of good workmanship, pride in a job well done and an emphasis on training and apprenticeships, have developed a dedicated workforce. Proof of this is the fact that sons and daughters of current and past employees, are now working at T. M. Browne Ltd and it is hoped that this will continue for future generations. Continuous employment has resulted in a consistently loyal team who take on challenges of day to day building and maintenance work, knowing they are supported by an equally rigorous and professional senior level of managers. More importantly, in overall charge of the organisation, is a fair and dedicated family unit who they can rely on to look after them and to steer a sure and dependable course into the future. T. M. Browne Limited, commemorating 30 years of successful business - May 2015 Page 3 The family in 1990 outside the office/house. The Browne family in 2015 outside the current offices. Page 4 T. M. Browne Limited, commemorating 30 years of successful business - May 2015 Background Information Timothy Michael Browne was born in Tilney St Lawrence in 1960 and brought up in a semi detached council house by Michael Browne ‘Bridge worker for Norfolk County Council’ and Josephine Browne ‘worked on the land and was also a typist and school cook’. Tim has four sisters. Julie Diane Browne nee Howling was born in Terrington St Clement in 1959 and brought up in a tied farm cottage by Churdy Howling ‘farmhand’ and Annie Howling ‘land-worker’. Julie is an only child. Jo and Mike Browne ‘Churdy’ and Annie Howling. Tim and Julie would like to dedicate this book to their parents – Mike and Jo Browne and Churdy and Annie Howling whom without their support over the years, their achievements to date would not have been possible. Annie passed away in 1990 & ‘Churdy’ in 2001. T. M. Browne Limited, commemorating 30 years of successful business - May 2015 Page 5 A message from the boss... Most companies celebrate 25 years of being in business, which we did informally in house, but we have decided to celebrate 30 years in business and share it with people who have influenced the business during this time. I went into Darren’s office and said “what about a china mug as a celebratory gift for customers and employees”. His reply was along the lines of “that’s not the best idea you have ever had, what about a book”? “No chance!” was my reply, but he and Mark Draper convinced me it was a good idea. So we put together a sub committee of Darren, Julie, Becky, Mark Draper, Sue Callaby and Michael Little and we hope we have produced an interesting read. I think that this has possibly been one of the hardest things we as a family have taken on. The one thing I was adamant about was that I did not want the book to be corporate or promotional but I wanted it to tell the story of a very young couple who took the chance of starting their own business. The story of a young man who loved his job as a plumber of which he was very thankful to R G Carters. I did not for one minute think running a business would be the emotional roller- Becky’s only choice of spending time with her coaster it turned out to be. When starting this journey, if someone had told me dad to get ‘out on the tools’. that in thirty years time I would be running a business turning over between £7.5/8.5 million, I would have said not in a million years! We, over the years, have worked very hard to get where we are today and have had our share of good and bad luck. We have worked on the land chopping sugar beet, picking potatoes, driving tractors and strawberry picking and we even used to clean at a pub in Tilney St Lawrence to make ends meet. One thing Julie and I have always done is work together (with me being the boss most of the time of course). Joking aside if anyone ever asks me how we did what we did, my answer would always be that every man needs a supportive wife by his side, and I was very lucky as Julie never really disagreed with my decision making and she Tim following Health and safety to the letter Page 6 T. M. Browne Limited, commemorating 30 years of successful business - May 2015 would never moan about the hours I worked nor the numerous amount of times I was late for meals or family occasions, as she knew I would never purposely be late. When people have asked me if I have any regrets my reply has always been the same. “Just one and that’s that I never spent as much time with my children as I wished I had, especially Becky, as for the first few years of her life I spent most of my time on the phone and being at work”. As you read this book I hope you will see that we are very thankful to friends, family, workmates and customers who have supported us and those who have advised us in the past. I was once told “you will spend your life making many acquaintances but gaining very few friends”. Fortunately I found the complete opposite was true and I feel we have made many more friends than acquaintances, recent and long lasting. Although it is impossible for us to mention everyone who helped Julie and I along the way, I speak on behalf of us both when I say you are never far from Times were hard and it took a while before Tim our thoughts and your help, advice, custom and friendship really is sincerely could afford a larger bucket! appreciated. Family and friends have played a huge part in this business and will continue to do so. The future for T. M. Browne Ltd is looking good with Darren taking over the Managing Director’s role this year. I feel that he and the management team we have in place can drive the business forward in the coming years. Tim. Tim proudly poses in front of his first sign written vehicle. T. M. Browne Limited, commemorating 30 years of successful business - May 2015 Page 7 A message from the real boss… Tim and I met when he was 17 and I was 18, me being one year and two weeks older than him. He takes pleasure in telling everyone that. We got married three years later, on June 27th 1981, and we moved in with my parents. Ten months later Rebecca arrived. We were offered a council house at 16 Long Road and moved in the September of 1981. In October 1984 I found out I was pregnant with Darren, and in the December we were offered the chance to buy our council house; the discount was our deposit so our mortgage payments were not much more than our rent would be. More and more people kept asking Tim if he would do jobs for them, and at the time the Government was encouraging people to go self-employed. We talked about it and went to see Julie Browne. Tim’s grandad who wasn’t too keen on Tim taking the risk, but said ‘if that’s what you want to do then do it’. We decided to go for it and Tony Wilson, who had a business in the village, recommended an accountant named Paul Stebbings. Paul explained everything we needed to do and his colleague, Brian Clements, gave me some lessons in book keeping which was very scary as mathematics was never my strong point. On May 7th 1985 the business commenced. Tim had his friend, Andrew Dowe, make a trailer to fit behind his car and off he went to work. I used to take phone calls, write out bills and anything else that was needed. Two months later Darren arrived. Tim was still busy doing jobs and trying not to let anyone down. He physically couldn’t do any more hours and he hardly had time to see the children. Life was busy at home with a baby and a 3 year old whilst also trying to learn accounts. We decided to take on a YTS boy, his name was Mark Rowe. The work still kept coming in, call outs in the middle of the night and still working the next day, but in September 1986 on my Mum and Dad’s 30th Wedding Anniversary, the work took its toll. Tim came home from work, had a shower and collapsed in the bathroom, breaking his leg in 2 places. He had an operation, was in plaster for 26 weeks and had 42 weeks off work. Our parents helped all they could with the children and with food gifts, but the work was still coming in.