A brief History of the company

Classical Glass is a specialist craft company making and repairing stained glass windows. It was founded in 1991 by Andrew Seddon, now aged 45, a former Chartered Engineer who had a passion for stained glass as a hobby. He started working from his kitchen table then soon moved into a workshop in an old Methodist church near his home. After 2 years in the old Methodist church workshops, with the demands of his new young family, he moved to a larger house and built a purpose designed studio in the garden of his home. It was in this studio that the company really became established and the first of 8 apprentices was employed. It was also during this time that Andrew’s wife, Corina Seddon, now aged 45, formally joined the business as a partner to continue the administrative role that she had been doing since the business started. Corina is currently developing the techniques required to make stained glass gifts. She has also been instrumental in improving the company’s Health and safety systems culminating in the converted CHAS (Construction health and safety certification) and registration with Constructionline, the register of prequalified companies in the construction industry.

The company has established a reputation for imaginative original design and excellent craft skills to execute the design to a finished piece of art glass, working in Churches, Commercial Developments and Private Homes.

In 1999 Stephen Evans, now aged 28, started with Classical Glass as an apprentice. He came from a background in retail and had no previous experience in stained glass. He commenced his training being shown how to make and restore the stained glass windows by Andrew Seddon. He also was enrolled in the NVQ level 2 in glass processing with Glass Training Ltd. He was successful in this and then also did the level 3 which included some supervisor training. After his training was completed he then became a supervisor responsible for his own work and the training of two apprentices. He then took on the role as the production manager with responsibility for production scheduling and progress. He is also responsible for the Health and Safety management and is currently on the NEBOSH Health & Safety course at Bury College one day a week.

Stephen has been instrumental in the development of the Company Training Manual which is being developed to ensure that high quality training is given to all new apprentices no matter who is training them within the company.

Following the incorporation of the company in 2003 establishing Classical Glass Ltd the future of the business was planned including the development of the training of new employees to sustain growth and seek excellence.

So in 2006 Paula Taylor, aged 39, was taken on to train as the business administrator and has done many and varied courses including specialist Sage Accounting, ECDL computer training and NVQ level 2 in business admin. She has now embarked in a degree with the Open University in business admin. And is now the hub of the organisation ensuring everything runs smoothly. She has also shown a keen interest in being more involved with the craft side of the business and is being training to make decorative glass using the stained glass overlay technique.

In 2007 the time came for the fulfilment of the decision to move to much larger premises and take on 2 more staff trainees. After much hard work to refurbish the premises the company is now has a smart showroom in a busy main road position, with large workshop space and ample offices, a kitchen and modern clean washroom facilities.