CR Smith joins SFHA as Sector Associate

CR Smith is Scotland’s longest running home improvement business, with its roots dating back to 1917.  Since then, it has become one of Scotland’s most respected companies and well-known brands. 

For over 50 years CR Smith has been owned and operated by Gerard Eadie CBE who, after completing his glazing apprenticeship with Fife Council, established his own glazing business and ultimately acquired CR Smith, choosing to retain the already well-respected brand name. 

From its origins as a glazing company focussed on replacement glazing contracts for local authorities, CR Smith has grown to be a leading installer of replacement window and door products for both private home owners and social landlords.  Today CR Smith remains a family-owned business, employing over 400 people throughout Scotland and serving our customers from offices in Fife, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness.   

We firmly believe that our longevity in an industry that has seen so many operators come and go is attributable to our uncompromising focus on the customer experience.  We recognise that whether you are a home owner or tenant your home is your most valued possession, and inviting tradespeople into it to carry out work can be daunting.  Everything we do is centred on ensuring complete peace of mind for our customers.  That is why we manufacture all of our own products and employ all of our tradespeople.  In doing so, we set and control the high standards our reputation has been built upon.  In fact, in 2020 we topped a Which.co.uk members’ poll of best double-glazing companies in the UK, with respondents giving us 5* for: Customer Service, Communication, Keeping to Timings, Minimising Mess and Quality of Installation. 

We also recognise that social landlords also need peace of mind, and a supplier who can deliver projects on budget, on time and with a high level of tenant satisfaction is invaluable.  With over 40 installation teams, operating in different homes throughout Scotland every day, our core competencies are our ability to efficiently plan and execute multiple window installation projects at once, and to do so whilst ensuring every customer is treated with care and sensitivity.  In doing so, we offer our social landlord clients the peace of mind that their window replacement project will be delivered without fuss. 

The cost-of-living crisis has shone a light on the energy inefficiency of our housing stock and social landlords have recognised the need to deliver a Fabric First approach to reducing fuel costs whilst avoiding exacerbating fuel poverty as we move to renewable fuel sources.  With more heat being lost via glazing than any other part of a building, CR Smith have developed product propositions that will help social landlords achieve both the short-term targets set out in ESSHH2 and the ultimate goal of creating Net Zero homes.  Our business development team get very excited about this subject and welcome any opportunity to talk to social landlords about how we might support your aims!  

Continuous training is also a priority across CR Smith, both for office-based colleagues as well as those working on site.  We know that the construction industry faces a skills gap but we continue to meet our customers’ needs by focussing on growing our own talent. Working in partnership with Fife College, we have developed an apprenticeship programme, which has been specially tailored to meet our company standards.  It combines the certified Modern Apprenticeship in Site Carpentry and Joinery with bespoke modules on customer service, teamwork and advanced product and window-fitting-specific skills.  The programme is delivered between Fife College and our own Training Academy and at present we have over 25 apprentices (including 7 adult apprentices) at various stages of completion. 

We believe our Purpose summarises what we stand for: 

• Our products should make our customers feel warmer, safer & prouder of their homes. 

• Through consistent empathy & professionalism we want our customers to feel great about choosing us. 

• We want to build a profitable & sustainable business so that we can continue to positively serve the communities in which we operate. 

Our products improve the thermal efficiency of homes.  The products we make, and how we make them, must directly contribute to a reduction in carbon emissions, whilst supporting our customers in reducing their energy bills. 

We believe this Purpose is well aligned with the SFHA and its member organisations and we are, therefore, excited to commence this relationship and build connections throughout the social landlord community in Scotland.  If you would like to talk about how we might support your needs further, please get in touch via commercial@crsmith.co.uk You can also see us the SFHA Development Conference on the 15th March at the Radison Blu Hotel in Glasgow. 

Wisit our website here: www.crsmith.co.uk