Bradley Brookes shortlisted for Made in Britain award

Entrepreneur Bradley Brookes has helped to transform his family business, doubling the staff and increasing profitability at bespoke Staffordshire Moorlands joinery company Brookeswood.

Now after celebrating 10 years at Brookeswood in 2026, Bradley has been shortlisted for a national honour in the Made in Britain awards programme.

Bradley is a finalist in the Inspiring Leader of the Year award by Made in Britain, an organisation which brings together manufacturers under one highly prized Made in Britain trademark.

Aged just 16, Brad joined mum and dad, Neil and Sue, at Brookeswood straight from school, and after serving his Business Administration apprenticeship he began to overhaul business processes as Sales and Projects Director.

He was then made a company director in 2020, aged just 21.

During the past five years, with Bradley as Sales and Projects Director, staffing levels have risen from 12 to 25 with turnover doubling at the timber doors and window frame specialists, based in Meerbrook, Leek.

Bradley has also overhauled the website and branding at Brookeswood and built a CRM system.

Further growth is forecast with new initiatives introduced by Bradley to the fore.

The company now has a new sales team in place and has innovated with new services, such as Ensure, a comprehensive after care service, and Advocate, a service through which Brookeswood takes historic building owners through the processes needed to gain listed building consent.

“We always look to add value to the customer service, and this is paying off,” said Bradley.

“Bespoke wooden windows and doors are a luxury purchase but may have simply been sold in the past as a necessity for families owning historic buildings.

“Brookeswood Advocate and Ensure are all about enhancing the customer care experience.

“When customers choose Advocate, we will manage the whole process of winning listed building consent. We submit the application and follow it through to acceptance.

“We are familiar with the conservation teams at councils in our core sales areas.

“It is in its infancy, but we currently have a 100% record.

“Ensure is our comprehensive aftercare service. Our skilled joiners will carry out all servicing needs, from adjustments to protective wood treatments.”

Bradley’s business acumen has come as no surprise to his mum, company Finance Director Sue.

She said: “Bradley has always had an entrepreneurial spirit, this became evident when he was a child as he really enjoyed inventing businesses and really went into great detail, designing branding and keeping records for staff, sales and marketing.

“He moved schools to Westwood, Leek as he specifically wanted to study Business Studies and this was part of the curriculum.”

It is not the first time his work has been nationally recognised. In 2021, Bradley won the British Woodworking Federation Rising Star award, and a year later Brookeswood was shortlisted by the federation for the BWF Process and Resources Efficiency award.

To find out more about Brookeswood please go to: https://brookeswood.com/