2024 in review
As 2024 comes to a close, we are thrilled to look back on another record-breaking year. With a remarkable turnover surpassing £200 million, Smith Brothers achieved an 8% growth over the previous year. This milestone offers us the opportunity to celebrate our successes and reflect on the outstanding accomplishments we’ve made throughout 2024.
ISO 14001 Certification
Building on our ISO 9001 certification gained in 2023, Smith Brothers was awarded ISO 14001 certification this year. This milestone further strengthens our commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability. The globally recognised ISO 14001 standard for Environmental Management Systems (EMS) empowers us to take a systematic approach to tackling key environmental challenges, ensuring regulatory compliance, and fostering ongoing ecological improvement.
We have also achieved SafeSupplier accreditation. This demonstrates that we meet rigorous safety, quality, and compliance standards, ensuring customers receive reliable, high-quality products and services. It reduces risk, fosters trust, and assures customers that Smith Brothers follows strict safety protocols and ethical business practices. This accreditation demonstrates a commitment to reliability, safety, and continuous improvement, offering peace of mind for customers.
SBS Nottingham opened!
SBS Nottingham officially opened its doors in May. Their 27,000 sq. ft. unit caters to all commercial and industrial plumbing, heating, and ACR needs in the Nottingham, Derby, and Lincoln areas while supporting the Smith Brothers’ Midlands branches.
Our Nottingham team was specially selected, with each member possessing an excellent reputation and knowledge of the industry and the local area. We employed Nathan Kinnear as branch manager, Emma Walker as business development manager, Nick Smith as area sales manager, and Shaun Chamberlain as assistant branch manager.
To mark the occasion, the Builders Merchants Journal visited the branch for its opening and featured SBS Nottingham in its merchant focus section.
Exhibiting at InstallerShow
In June, Smith Brothers exhibited alongside CORE at the InstallerSHOW, held at Birmingham’s NEC Arena. This event attracted over 20,000 professionals from the heating, water, air, and energy sectors. It was the perfect platform for showcasing our products, building connections with customers and suppliers, and expanding our network within the industry.
This year, a more prominent stand allowed us to highlight Smith Brothers’ extensive offerings alongside our rapidly growing exclusive CORE range, which has seen substantial development since last year’s show.
We were also thrilled to welcome a special guest, former World Strongest Man, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, famously known as Thor, “The Mountain” from Game of Thrones!
The successful growth of CORE
Our own-brand CORE celebrated its first anniversary in May. Since its launch, CORE has rapidly expanded to offer 1,000+ product SKUs across our branches, demonstrating strong demand.
CORE products have already been featured in several high-profile installations, including football clubs, data centre cooling systems, schools and plant rooms for a high-street retailer. We are excited to continue playing a vital role in these significant projects.
CORE products have already been featured in several high-profile installations, including football clubs, data centre cooling systems, schools and plant rooms for a high-street retailer. We are excited to continue playing a vital role in these significant projects.
In response to growing safety and traceability concerns, particularly after the Grenfell Tower disaster and its impact on HVAC installations, we have made all CORE technical information. easily accessible. Customers can now visit our CORE technical documents page to download datasheets, installation and operating manuals (IOMs), WRAS certificates, and material safety data sheets (MSDSs), ensuring project compliance and support.
www.sbsonline.net – always evolving!
Since launching in 2022, our award-winning online platform, www.sbsonline.net, has undergone continuous improvement guided by an ambitious development roadmap and valuable user feedback.
With around 2,000+ existing Smith Brothers customers opting to manage their accounts online, we have seen a 25% increase in new users compared to 2023. This growth underscores the importance of providing customers with instant access to critical account information and the convenience of online ordering for same-day collection or next-day delivery.
Existing SBS customers can quickly sign up to manage their accounts online by clicking here and completing an online access form. You can choose from various access levels to customise your experience on the platform.
Significant anniversaries
Our esteemed Sales Director, Tony Smith, celebrated 25 years with Smith Brothers in 2024. As we reflected on his incredible journey, we took the opportunity to recognise his significant achievements and the lasting impact he has had on our organisation. Tony’s dedication and leadership have been instrumental in shaping the success of Smith Brothers, and we are proud to celebrate this remarkable milestone with him.
Recognition and Awards
Winner: HVR Awards x 2, CE East Midlands Awards x 2, Great British Fleet Awards x 1
Highly Commended: ACR Journal National Heat Pump Awards x 2, CE East Midlands Awards x 1
Finalist: H&V News Awards x 2, BMN Awards x 2, ACR Awards, BESA Awards x 1, RAC Awards x 3, CE East Midlands Awards x 1, Fleet News Awards x 1
Challenging customers to the JCB Golf Course on our third Annual National Golf Day
On August 22nd, we hosted our annual National Golf Day at the prestigious JCB Golf and Country Club, one of the UK’s most exclusive golfing venues. Sponsored by Crane and Polypipe Terrain, this highly anticipated event has become a standout occasion for our company and valued customers.
Guests enjoyed the challenge of the club’s stunning 240-acre, 18-hole course, including the excitement of a £10,000 hole-in-one contest on the ninth hole. Football legend Tony Cottee joined us on the course to make the day even more unique, giving participants a rare chance to test their skills against a true sports icon.
Improving our Fleet
We were proud to be featured in the Fleet News Electric Fleet Special Report, which recognised our efforts to decarbonise our vehicle fleet. As a FORS Gold operator, managing a range of cars, light commercial vehicles, and heavy-duty trucks, we are committed to exploring every opportunity to reduce carbon emissions while maintaining the exceptional service quality our customers expect.
This year, we expanded our fleet by introducing a Volvo 18-tonne FE 6×2 R curtain-side tube lorry. This new addition enhances the flexibility of our internal stock movements and customer deliveries, serving our branches with increased efficiency.
In Summary
As we reflect on the remarkable achievements of 2024, it is clear that this year’s success would not have been possible without the unwavering dedication and hard work of our incredible staff members. Their commitment to excellence has been the driving force behind every milestone we’ve celebrated, from expanding our product offerings and improving our services to achieving new certifications and accolades. Together, we’ve set new records and positioned Smith Brothers for an even brighter future.
As we look ahead to 2025, we are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and the continued growth and success of Smith Brothers. With our talented team, innovative solutions, and strong customer relationships, we are ready to take on new challenges and reach even greater heights.
Here’s to another year of progress, achievements, and shared success. We wish all our employees, customers, and partners a prosperous and fulfilling 2025!
