When many businesses were left wondering what to do and how to navigate COVID and lockdown, one Whitby tradesman took it as an opportunity to re-focus his.
James Eddon, director of Abbey Gas, has re-branded his business as The Abbey Group to better reflect the extended trades he now offers – alongside plumbing such as Abbey home-care, electrical and building and joinery.
After leaving British Gas and establishing Abbey Gas back in 2008, James found himself going back to the traditional way of trade work when Covid and lockdown hit back in 2020.
With his staff furloughed and work having been booked in, James reverted back to his formative years in the industry, and a time when tradesmen were multi-skilled and offered all aspects of renovation work.
He said: “During COVID the guys were furloughed, there was only me left and we were in the middle of jobs wondering what to do.
“It seemed a natural progression to go back to what we did 30 years ago when tradesmen were multi-skilled. I quite liked doing it and kept going and we started putting more work in.”
Since then James, who employs 11 full time multi-skilled staff as well as a trusted group of sub contractors, has worked on a wide range of contracts from new boilers for domestic, residential clients to current projects such as the luxurious revamp of Customs House.
It is one of the most historic buildings in Whitby and James has worked closely with the clients to project manage the work from concept to completion, working along side local tradesmen to deliver the highest quality.
The Abbey Group also led a complex ten month upgrade programme at The Riviera Guest House on Whitby’s West Cliff.
This included overseeing the renovation of the guest dining room, ripping out, re-modelling and fitting out the guest dining room, reception and catering kitchen, as well as the owners kitchen and living spaces including the games room and roof terrace.
While the work kept coming, James wanted to highlight the new skillset and business direction and so formed The Abbey Group, which he says will allow for more business growth and development opportunities in future.
He said: “It was getting to the point where we were going to jobs and clients were asking the question ‘it is great that you are here, but aren’t you a plumber? It seemed to be a natural transition and progression to form The Abbey Group. They had no idea we could deliver all of these things.”
Whitby has seen a rise in high-end property re-modelling and renovation in recent years, particularly with second-home or holiday let owners investing in property in the sought after Whitby and surrounding area.
It has also opened up a market, which James and his team have sought to specialise in, and complements his business vision.
James said: “People like a ‘one stop shop’ and the ease and convenience of dealing with one person. One person who manages their renovation from start to finish, coordinates the electric, plumbing, joinery and building elements of a renovation – and takes the pressure and hassle away from them.
“We want people to enjoy the renovation process and for them to go away afterwards, think there was no stress or pressure and to like what they have at the end of it.”
The Abbey Group has also launched Abbey Home Care, a subscription model maintenance plan which gives customers flexible, pay-monthly plans so they can have peace of mind their boiler and heating systems are always working effectively and maintained.
There are several service packages tailored to domestic houses right through to residential landlords and commercial holiday let companies.
Service plan models are a direction James has wanted to take his business in for some years. It was made possible with the appointment of Amy, who oversees the administration, customer service, and organisational aspects of Abbey Group, and with James’ brother, Richard, the company’s heating engineer.
He also now has Mal and Kieran running the main building projects, with James Fawcett running the plumbing side of the business.
James explained: “I always knew for the last 18 to 20 years, I wanted to offer service plans but I didn’t have the infrastructure.
“Two years ago, on the same day, Amy joined the business looking after the administration and Richard came on board.
“It was all I needed. I couldn’t do it while I was still on tools full time. I just needed the right people in the right place to free myself up to start the Home Care.”
Despite the growth of Abbey Gas and the Group – striving for customer service remains a constant.
They have even been known to put Christmas trees up in holiday lets.
James said: “When I left British Gas, I had to build the business and show people I could do what British Gas did.
“I left with two weeks of work planned – a bathroom to fit and a boiler to change – and I haven’t sat down since.
“People knew me, trusted me and I had that local connection with my family and having grown up here.
“I always said it wasn’t about the money, but doing a good job, and the reputation and success will follow. I am always looking forward and to grow the business.”
