How it all started
Abbott-Wade Joinery was established in St Helens in 1996 by close friends Mike Wade and Craig Abbott; both highly skilled and experienced craftsman qualified to NVQ level 4 in Joinery. Following 10 years working across all aspects of joinery from the installation of floors and kitchens to loft conversions and staircases in both domestic and commercial sectors, Mike and Craig identified a need for a specialist staircase company focussing on the supply, design and installation of bespoke staircase conversions.
Thanks to the support of the Prince’s Trust, bags of ambition and hard work (and some blood, sweat and tears along the way), the dream of running their own business became a reality and Abbott-Wade Ltd now operates a nationwide service from their Warrington base.
Where are we now?
24 years after those humble beginnings, our award-winning business and ambition has grown and our vast experience is in increasing demand. We now operate a nationwide service but we hold tightly to the values which we built our company on.
We are proud to remain a family run business, employing teams which include three generations; from fathers to sons, cousins and in-laws and fitting teams all trained in-house. There are no shareholders applying pressure to maximise profits at the detriment of quality and service. Our small dedicated team, lower overheads and our commitment to more than just profitability means we are able to keep standards up and prices down. Because of the hands-on style of leadership of our Directors, Craig & Mike have trained and nurtured their handpicked workforce, instilling the same values upon them which has served their business so well for over 20 years.
So when you choose Abbott-Wade, you are not choosing another faceless corporation to work in your home, you’re choosing a family-run business with a genuine commitment to completing a quality staircase installation using craftsmen who share the same values that you do.
It is all about treating customers fairly and why we offer a great product for a fair price.
Our Team
As we’ve grown we’ve expanded our team, but rest assured, all our tradesmen have been handpicked and fully trained to meet our stringent high standards.
The Office & Survey Team
CRAIG ABBOTT | DIRECTOR
Co-founder who set the industry standard for staircase renovations.
A snowboarder with a taste for travel and all things French.
MIKE WADE | DIRECTOR
Co-founder and staircase pioneer, Mike set the benchmark others aspire to.
A keen football fan, cyclist and devoted dad.
LESLIE DASH | OPERATIONS MANAGER
Happiest when he’s on two wheels, Les knows more about staircases than should be humanly possible.
EDDIE PING | SCHEDULING
A family member & former teacher charged with keeping his new classmates in order.
LANA KAYAT | OFFICE SUPPORT
A friendly face and another family connection, Lana is a psychology graduate who keeps colleagues and clients smiling.
JOE STOCKER | SURVEYOR & CAD DESIGNER
Joe has a creative eye and ensures all our new flights are designed and manufactured to the exact specifications.
SIMON GIVERIN | CAD DESIGNER
A creative young talent in the Design Studio, Simon is making big steps in staircase design.
COLIN CAMPBELL | SALES MANAGER
A designer who’s seen it all, Colin’s a real gentleman who likes to get stuck in with the tools. [Read More]
JOHANNA WADE & MICHELLE ABBOTT | MARKETING & ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
“Behind every great man there is a great woman.” Never was a truer word said!
The Design Team
DAVID BOLTON | DESIGNER
All round nice guy and family man, David’s always happiest to talk staircases over a cup of tea.
CHRIS DAVIES | DESIGNER
Looking after our clients in the North West, Chris splits his time between the joys of being a Grandfather and designing beautiful staircases.
STEVE HEALY | DESIGNER
An experienced staircase designer looking after our clients in the North East regions.
RAY MCMILLAN | DESIGNER
Serving our clients from the East Midlands to East Anglia & London, Ray is a big personality with a real enthusiasm for stairs.
JANET STEPHENS | DESIGNER
A former kitchen designer and BA cabin crew, Janet’s experience, knowledge and warm personality are just the ticket.
ROGER BURTON | DESIGNER
Our clients in London and the South East are in good hands with this experienced staircase designer and true gentleman.
STUART CORBITT | DESIGNER
Stuart knows a thing or two about staircases, having been in the industry for a number of years. A passionate family man with 5 grown up sons who loves music and good wine!
JOHN CLARK | DESIGNER
Looking after clients in the West Midlands and the South West, John’s an experienced designer who’s ready to design your dream staircase.
The Production Team
PAUL ADAMS | WAREHOUSE MANAGER
Organised and meticulous, Paul runs a tight ship making sure all our stair parts are ready to leave our HQ on time and in mint condition.
JON ABBOTT | SPRAYER
Our very own Mr Sheen, Jon is a conscientious perfectionist which makes him the right man to prefinish our stair parts to the highest standards. [Read More]
IAN REDPATH | SPRAYER
Family man and all round good guy! Ian has been honing is skills for many years and now brings his vast experience & expertise to the Abbott-Wade team.
DAVID ABBOTT | SHOP-FLOOR CRAFTSMAN
The elder statesman and caravanning king. A superb joiner with bags of experience.
JAKE WALKER | APPRENTICE
Enthusiastic and keen to learn. Jake has the attitude and drive to succeed in his newly chosen career.
The Installations Team
LEE KAYAT | Field Installation Manager
A family member & former grade A student, risen through the ranks to become an expert at his craft.
ANTHONY JONES | TEAM LEADER
The prodigal son; rugby player and Dad Anthony has rejoined our family business with added experience & expertise.
CHARLES TYSON | TEAM LEADER
The next generation of Abbott-Wade; Charles is a new-Dad and a keen sportsman who excels on the tools and within the touchline.
JASON VASQUEZ | FITTER
A hugely talented craftsman who honed his trade in the boat industry. You’re guaranteed plain sailing with Jason on board.
ELLIS GRIMES | TEAM LEADER
His enthusiasm and determination means there’s no stopping this young joiner who’s destined for great things!
TOM WHARTON | FITTER
A joiner with a natural flair for the craft. Tom’s a great fitter and always a welcome guest in clients homes.
SIMON GARNER | FITTER
A rugby fan with lots of talent and even more potential, Simon has a bright future in the world of staircases.
JAKE TAYLOR | FITTER
An all round nice guy, Jake is a welcome addition to our team.
LEWIS WOODER | FITTER
A rising star with all the attributes for a long and happy career with us. Lewis is the new generation of Abbott-Wade with a bright future.
JOE HARGREAVES | FITTER
A talented young member of our installations team and always a welcome visitor in clients homes.
MIKE KELLY | FITTER
A fitter with a keen eye for detail, Mike’s always ready to roll up his sleeves and get the job done just right!
DANIEL LANGHORN | FITTER
An experienced staircase fitter who loves his work. Dan is a welcome addition to our team.
TOM ROWEN | FITTER
Polite, talented and rising star in the world of staircase installations.
HENRY BONYNGE | TRAINEE
Henry oozes enthusiasm and is committed to attaining the highest standards.
KANE BARROW | TRAINEE
Just starting out on a new adventure, Kane is showing great promise.
HENRY HOOVER | CLEANING EXPERT
Helping us to maintain our status as The Tidy Tradesmen, Henry accompanies us on all our installations.
The Aftercare Team
LINDA GREEN | AFTERCARE COORDINATOR
Lovely Linda has years of experience in both the staircase industry and Customer Service making her the ideal individual to to look after our dedicated Aftercare service.
ADAM FORKIN | STAIRCASE TECHNICIAN & AFTERCARE
A true artist with a chisel, Adam is the absolute definition of a craftsman.
ADAM POULTON | AFTERCARE
Don’t let his cheeky smile fool you, Adam’s deadly serious when it comes to staircases.
AN AWARD WINNING FAMILY BUSINESS | ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY
We aren’t all related, but among our ranks are spouses, fathers & sons, cousins and in-laws. It’s part of a unique dynamic which won us the title of National Champion at the National Family Business Awards and winners of numerous coveted accolades.
