Made for Trade achieves esteemed King’s Award for Enterprise

One of the fenestration industry’s leading lights has been presented with a King’s Award for Enterprise, after successfully patenting a product which has revolutionised the roof lantern systems in the marketplace. Made for Trade, a family-run business in Teesside with over 240 employees, was presented with the royal seal of approval this month by Mrs Sue Snowdon, His Majesty King Charles’ Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham.  

Made For Trade, which manufactures and supplies aluminium glazing systems across the UK, won a King’s Award for Innovation, thanks to its revolutionary Korniche Aluminium Lantern Roof product, a patented solution to bringing light into a single-story extension. Bradley Gaunt, MD, said: “This award is the highest award you can get in business. I am absolutely delighted, not just for my family, but my team. We are truly honoured with this huge recognition for what we have done. We don’t have any plans to export right now, however if ever we wanted to cross the waters, this award will have huge benefits!” 

 Made for Trade, which was previously known as Aanco, was handed from Father Richard Gaunt, to son Bradley, at the age of 23; he was later joined by brother and fellow engineer, Ashley, and more recently sister Lois. When Bradley took over, the company had just 11 employees and working from one base, now it has three manufacturing sites in the Northeast and a headquarters of over 190,000 ft², a 25-strong fleet of delivery vehicles and an engineering and innovation department, headed up by Ashley. Bradley said: “Over forty years ago when we started, my father was manufacturing and installing PVC-U windows on Teesside. We had a good name for ourselves, but the domestic market was getting tough and I wanted us to innovate and concentrate of B2B.  We began focussing more on the trade manufacturing side and making great quality products that were easy market leading, at a really good price. From there we designed the Korniche Aluminium Lantern Roof. Structurally its stronger, aesthetically it’s so much better, it’s solar controlled, but most importantly easier and faster to install.”  

 Meticulously engineered to be the strongest and stiffest on the market, the Korniche roof lantern supports industry leading maximum glass sizes without the need of additional rafters. With no cutting or silicone required within the roof structure, the Korniche is the go-to Lantern for trade installers.

Bradley was joined by his family and members of his 240-strong workforce, at their headquarters in Wynyard, to receive his King’s Award for Enterprise from the Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham. 

Mrs Snowdon said: “These awards are not easily attained; they are highly prized and the hallmark of excellence across the world. The King’s Awards are only given to companies who are particularly innovative in the marketplace. 

“Made for Trade is now one of the UK’s largest manufacturers of bi-folding doors and the sole fabricator of the multi-award-winning Korniche roof lantern product. I was truly impressed by how the company has grown and innovated and how it has disrupted the marketplace by designing a product which is not only more aesthetically pleasing, but quicker and easier to install.  

“Made for Trade is a truly innovative and exciting British company, with generations of experience and an excellent team.”