Building strong foundations
Founded in 2012, Century Facades has since established itself as one of Kent’s leading construction businesses. Joint Managing Director Tim Lovell tells Tunbridge Wells Business Magazine about the company’s values and why they are investing in the next generation through apprenticeships…
Century Facades was founded in 2012 in Tonbridge. The company was established to provide a technically focused, cost-effective approach to complex building facade engineering and construction.
Tim Lovell, one of the company’s Joint Managing Directors (along with Graham Hackley) explains their aim has always been to combine strong engineering expertise with practical construction experience to simplify the ‘design-procure-construct’ process for modern facades.
“We work mainly on large commercial, residential, and high-rise projects, offering integrated design-and-build solutions from concept through to installation. We also experienced in refurbishment and recladding projects to improve building performance and compliance.”
Tim goes on to say that Century Facades’ rapid growth over the past 14 years has been driven by the business’s strong technical expertise, integrated design-and-build approach, and ability to successfully deliver complex facade projects in a cost-effective and efficient way.
“Building strong relationships across the industry has also played a major part in this success, leading to long-standing partnerships with key clients who have continued to work with us on projects throughout the years,” reveals Tim.
“We also place great value on investing in our people, supporting staff through training, development opportunities, and further education such as degree programmes, helping us retain talented teams and continue delivering high-quality results.
This is why they have invested £250,000 into an apprenticeship scheme that’s been running for many years and offers young people the opportunity to get into the industry.
“We have seen first-hand how successful it is to bring young people into the business early in their careers. We strongly believe that some of the best learning comes through day-to-day experience and the sharing of knowledge between colleagues, particularly between junior and senior members of the team.”
The programme reflects Century Façade’s wider ambition to give back to the community, nurture local talent, and contribute to the sustainable growth of the region’s workforce.
The scheme involves recruiting school leavers and graduates into a structured development programme that combines practical, hands-on experience with ongoing professional training and mentoring. Participants work alongside experienced members of the team across different areas of the business, allowing knowledge and skills to be shared naturally through day-to-day collaboration.
More recently Tim says they have made a significant dedicated investment into expanding and strengthening the programme further.
“This allows us to provide even greater opportunities for development and long-term career progression. We would encourage anyone interested in pursuing a career within the construction and facade industry to get in touch.”
Tim reveals this type of investment in apprenticeships supports Century Facades’ ongoing success by building a consistent pipeline of skilled people who understand the business, its standards, and its way of working from an early stage in their careers.
“It strengthens long-term capability by ensuring knowledge is developed and shared internally, rather than relying solely on external recruitment. It also improves staff retention and continuity, as investing in training and career progression helps people grow with the company. Over time, this creates a more experienced, loyal, and capable workforce, which directly supports higher quality delivery, stronger client relationships, and the ability to take on increasingly complex projects.”
Century Facades would love to hear from anyone who may be interested. All applicants should send their CV to megan.edwards@centuryfacades.co.uk
www.centuryfacades.co.uk
