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CSR
Eleven years ago, fellow directors
Mark Brocklehurst and David Griffiths
led an MBO of the company that will
celebrate its 40th anniversary year
in 2017. The Toshiba-first dealership
(Sharples also carries OKI, Lexmark
and KYOCERA, but the bulk of
its business is conducted with
Toshiba), has grown to a very healthy
turnover of £3.2 million and a staff
that totals 26.
Brocklehurst said that the firm has
always operated on an ethical basis but
up until recently they hadn’t really put a
name to it. “I think what made us different
is that we didn’t just talk the talk,” he
said. “We’ve always ensured that each
and every deal was financially viable for
Since adopting a policy based strictly on responsible and ethical business,
Warrington-based Sharples Group has seen the business go from strength
to strength
Principle before profit
is good for business
(and won) a number of awards. But it was
when writing everything down to compile
their entry for the prestigious High Sheriff
of Cheshire Enterprise Awards that the
impact of all they had achieved really hit
home. “We looked at all we have done and
it was pretty impressive, we realised then
that what we had was a real USP for our
business,” Brocklehurst said.
“At the end of the day the kit we’re
selling is the same as any number of other
resellers, but our people and approach to
business makes us stand out, so we came
up with a name and began to formally
shape our ethical business policy, hence
principle before profit came about.”
The company’s unique approach was
officially recognised when it won ‘The Most
Responsible Business Practice in Cheshire’
Award in the aforementioned High Sheriff
of Cheshire Enterprise Awards.
Brocklehurst continued: “We’re a
c£3m business and over the past five
years, we have raised nearly £500,000
for North West-based charities. We punch
way above our weight when it comes to
charity fundraising. The bigger you are the
less chance you have of getting anywhere
near this level of commitment, if you’re
answering to shareholders then in almost
every case, profit will be king. But as a
small owner-managed business, it works
for us, as a leadership team we all believe
in it and work together to pull it off.”
Some of the North West-based
charities to have benefitted from Sharples’
generosity include Warrington Wolves
Foundation, St Roccos, Brainwaves,
Joseph’s Goal, Bolton Lads and Girls Club
and Warrington Youth Club.
Fundraising challenges have included
zip wire slides, triathlons, Three Peak
challenges, hiking and, of course, the much
publicised 3,000 mile rowing crossing of
the Atlantic Ocean in which Brocklehurst
was one of the four brave rowers.
Later this year Brocklehurst is to take
Principle
before profit
is primarily
about people
– our staff and
our customers
in all areas of
the business
Sharples, but we also took it one step
further by making sure each proposal
answered the question: ‘What’s in it for the
customer?’
“There have been occasions in the past
when I’ve looked at a proposal and pushed
it back to the sales manager saying, I can
see what’s in it for us, but what’s in it for
the customer? Have another look and
make it better,” he added.
This is, he admits an approach that
sounds mad. “But, it is an effective means
of boosting business for the Sharples
Group. What’s good for the customer, is
ultimately good for us too,” he explained.
A unique selling point
Over the years the company has entered
(l-r) David Griffiths
and
Mark Brocklehurst
Helen Jones MP, the Labour member for
Warrington North visited the Sharples Group
offices to discuss the positive impact of the
‘Principle before Profit’ policy with Managing
Director Mark Brocklehurst; Sales Director David
Griffiths; Financial Director Aimee Timmins; and
charity representatives Adrian Derbyshire, a
former international wheelchair athlete for Great
Britain, a hate crime ambassador and disability
spokesperson; as well as Dave McNicholl, the
Chief Executive of Warrington Youth Club.
(l-r) Dave McNicholl, Mark Brocklehurst, Adrian
Derbyshire, David Griffiths, Aimee Timmins and
Helen Jones MP
