Staff from Gage Joinery suddenly materialised on Oban’s North Pier and turned quite a few heads as they set up windows and patio doors in the open. This was their way of grabbing local and media attention for the launch of a sister company – Gage Windows.
The company had been fitting windows and patio doors but rather invisibly, under the name of the first company, Gage Joinery – which actually did more than it said on the tin.
Starting three years ago with a training grant from Highlands and Islands Enteerprise (HIE) Gage Joinery has built up a strong contract portfolio in joinery work from kitchens and bathrooms to property renovations and new builds.
George Gage (pictured left), owner-operator of both Gage Joinery and Gage Windows says: ‘After the success of our previous windows service, I felt it was time to expand in this industry and I identified that there is a real market for this locally and Argyll wide. This is a fantastic opportunity for Gage as a business and for local residents to have access to an affordable and local service that is just along the road’.
Since he started the business, George has taken on two professional joiners local to Oban and plans to employ an apprentice joiner in the next year. Always keen to transfer his trade skills to young people, he regularly takes on work experience pupils from Oban High School, his own old school and plans to continue working with the school’s work experience programme. Sixteen year-old Scott Maitland is currently working with the company as part of the school’s employment training initiative.
Sam Ford, from HIE’s Argyll and the Islands team said: ‘We are delighted to see this business grow in size and ambition. This is a natural diversification for Gage Joinery – using current skills to provide another service’.
Along with the start of its second company, Gage has launched a new website, covering the services provided by both Gage Joinery and Gage Windows. These developments are an example of the sort of get-up-and-go attitude that will turn around Argyll’s economy.
The photograph above is reproduced by permission. It shows George Gage, hanging on to a patio door on Oban’s North Pier – trying not to sail away in the wind – and with the local landmark of McCaig’s Tower at the top of the hill in the background.