From Fish to Fixings!

May 2019 marked 30 years since Kernow Fixings started trading, a significant milestone that the Kernow team felt worthy of celebrating.

Founder, Mr Caleb Furse, previously spent 46 years as a fisherman from Mevagissey, Cornwall. In the mid-eighties, it was becoming more difficult to earn enough from the fishing to provide what was needed, so he changed course to build a better business for his children, and in 1989 moved from fishing to fixings!

Initially operating from a garden shed as an office and a small garage & caravan as a warehouse, Kernow Fixings supplied the trade with fixings & Fasteners. Since then the family business is now in its third generation and has gone from strength to strength.

Kernow Fixings now employs, coincidently, 30 staff and provides fixings, fasteners, supports and pre- fabricated solutions to Mechanical & Electrical and Construction Contractors throughout the UK. Kernow has supported a range of significant projects both locally and UK wide. These include projects such as the Eden Project, RAF St. Mawgan, Derrys Cross Building in Plymouth, Hinkley Point C, The Shard and Wembley Stadium Development projects in London…. to name a few!

Based at their Industrial Estate premises purpose built in 1994, Kernow have expanded several times, and in 2017 secured a second 6000 sq ft warehouse. This is used as the offsite fabrication workshop and for further stock holding, allowing thousands of product lines to be delivered next day to customers on-site, anywhere in the UK.

Kernow Fixings has successfully evolved with the times, working closely with customers to provide solutions, not just products. Director Andrew Furse (son of Mr Caleb Furse) and Senior Director Reuben Prisgrove, believe that putting customer service at the centre of the business over the last three decades has undoubtedly contributed to Kernow Fixings’ success.

In October last year Kernow Fixings was recognised for its outstanding customer care, becoming a finalist at the London Construction Awards for ‘Supplier of the Year’.

To celebrate the journey of success and in recognition of all the staff, Kernow kicked off their 30^th Anniversary on 23rd May (30 years to the day since their first ever order in 1989), where employees enjoyed an on-site celebration of motivational team games and a BBQ cooked by the Directors. This was also a special day for employee Alan Robinson, celebrating 25 Years’ service with Kernow.

MD, Nathan Prisgrove, said: “Reaching 30 years is a significant milestone which we’ve really wanted to celebrate this year. It’s a fantastic achievement and we’ve come a long way since 1989, but we’re also looking forward to an exciting future ahead”.

“Fishing is like farming, it was a way of life. Back in those early days, fishing was tough work and on many occasions very dangerous and life-risking. Moving from fishing to fixings was a revolutionary change in our lives, but undoubtedly, the past 30 years have proved it was the right decision to make.”

Kernow will continue to mark its 30^th Anniversary throughout the year, and would like to take this opportunity to thank all their customers and suppliers who have contributed to the company’s success and reaching this significant landmark.