Excel Carpentry’s Cambridge success story speeds up as summer kicks in

Excel Carpentry’s phenomenal journey to become one of the region’s success stories means it is set to turn over £3million this year – and the company is looking for an additional 10 carpenters as demand picks up.

In just five years, founder Nick Burrows has grown his company from turnover of £120k to £2.5m. Business shows no signs of slowing down – on the contrary, as summer approaches, it’s busier than ever.

Nick had started his career as an apprentice at one of England’s largest building firms but felt he wasn’t progressing as fast as he hoped.

“I soon realised I wasn't receiving the support or development opportunities I needed,” he says. “After gaining experience with other carpentry companies, I was confident I could offer a better service myself.”

Nick told the Cambridge Independent: “We’re ramping up for summer; we’ve also just received a commission to refurbish several buildings for a University of Cambridge college, and we’re now looking to add 10 Level 3-qualified carpenters to the team.”

Excel Carpentry Contractors, incorporated by Nick in August 2019, is BM Trada accredited and geared to the commercial market, with a full set of carpentry disciplines available. The team specialises in installing certified fire door sets to ensure the safety and security of your building.

The early days demanded significant personal sacrifice, with Burrows working extended hours to establish the business.

“I was working 14-hour days, spending the daytime on the tools and the evenings managing quotes, invoicing, admin and marketing.

“But I loved what I was doing. That passion kept me going.”

The turning point came when Burrows decided to bring in additional management support.

“The real shift came when I realised I couldn’t do it all on my own. I brought in a former colleague to help with operations and it was a turning point.

“Now we have eight staff in the office and around 40 carpenters on site.”

They now work on some of the biggest projects in Cambridge, including the Clare College Old Court refurbishment with Barnes Construction. This involves restoring windows, repairing roof rafters, replacing valleys, and fully refurbishing rooms with new kitchenettes, doors and floors.

With stronger management structures in place, Excel Carpentry has also been able to give back to the Cambridge community.

“Our growth has enabled us to invest in our people by expanding our apprenticeship programme and supporting charitable initiatives in Cambridge, including grassroots football and charity sporting events.

“From the start, I wanted to build a business that wasn’t just about profit, but one that created opportunities for others, supported the community and took sustainability seriously.”

With the business well-established in Cambridge, Burrows now plans to expand into Oxford, taking advantage of government aspirations for regional development.

Meanwhile, Nick says the company “is ramping up for summer, always the busiest time for the trade”.

Find out more at info@exccl.co.uk.