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A fourth-generation family business supplying copper into some of the UK’s biggest projects is set to more than double its capacity, after work on its new state-of-the-art headquarters in Coventry officially got underway.
Lawton Tubes, a supplier and manufacturer of 100 per cent recyclable copper tube and fittings, is gearing up to open a new £20 million facility next year to meet growing domestic demand for its plumbing and heating and air conditioning products.
The new building will be across the road from its current headquarters which was only built back in 2019.
To mark the first dig on site the Lawton board were joined by principal contractor Interclass, Corin Crane, Chief Executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, Andy Williams, Director of Regeneration & Economy at Coventry City Council, and Cllr Jim O. Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change at Coventry City Council.
The new facility will equal the size of approximately 40 tennis courts – double the size of its existing headquarters that will also remain operational.
It will include a 107,768 sq ft warehouse along with 17,220 sq ft of office space and welfare areas and a 40-metre service yard. The new solar-powered premises will contain Lawton Tubes’ manufacturing and storage operations, which will feature automated technology, as well as modern office and collaborative spaces to nurture the next generation of engineering professionals.
The milestone comes 107 years after the business was initially co-founded in Coventry by Albert Lawton, whose family still operate the business to this day.
Since the First World War the business’s copper tube products have continued to play an instrumental role in carrying heat, water, and energy into homes, hospitals, and cities across the country.
Lawton Tubes has also played its part in supplying the ongoing maintenance of iconic British landmarks – from Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, to The Shard and Wembley Stadium.
Of the £230 million turnover generated annually by the business, £204 million comes from projects supporting British infrastructure from the NHS through to the Ministry of Defence.
Lawton Tubes continues to grow, and employs 140 staff across its bases in Coventry, Redditch and Poole; with that number expected to increase in the coming years.
The business is also growing its customer-base beyond its traditional markets of plumbing, HVAC, and medical gas into fast-growing industries including data centres and renewable energy.
Giles Lawton, Managing Director of Operations at Lawton Tubes, said: “Our new headquarters is about doubling down on what has defined our business’ success over the past 107 years: backing UK plc.
“Our copper tube and fittings are one of the hidden foundations which keeps Britain moving – whether it is carrying oxygen to people’s NHS hospital beds, helping National Grid in keeping millions of homes warm, or supporting Network Rail in keeping engines train-ready.
“The sectors that we supply into are endless, and with that comes ongoing rising demand, which this new HQ will enable to us meet as we strive to continue innovating and become the number one supplier of fittings in the UK by 2030.”
Corin Crane, Chief Executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce added: “It is fantastic to see a Coventry company investing in the region and make this long-term commitment to its future in our area.
“Lawton Tubes is an innovative, forward-thinking business and I am so pleased to see that work on this new site is getting underway.”
Councillor Jim O’Boyle cabinet member for jobs, regeneration and climate change said: “It’s great to see a business born in Coventry, growing and thriving in Coventry. Their investment in a new HQ in the city is testament to their commitment and ambition to grow and expand into new sectors which of course will mean more new jobs for local people.
“The ambition to be solar-powered is important too and it demonstrates a real commitment to supporting a greener future.”
Des O’Neill, managing director of Interclass Plc, said: “We are honoured to have been awarded the contract to construct the new Headquarters for Lawton Tubes in Coventry.
“With a long history of delivering projects across the Midlands, this project represents an exciting opportunity for Interclass to partner with a long-established, family-owned British manufacturer whose values closely align with our own, and to support the next chapter of their growth. “Our team is committed to working closely with Lawton Tubes, the wider project team, and the local community to deliver a high-quality, future-focused facility that strengthens local skills, supports the regional supply chain and provides an inspiring environment for the next generation of engineering and manufacturing talent for decades to come.”
