David and Martin, Managing Directors of The Traditional Company Ltd, reflect on the company’s journey—from its beginnings to the challenges they’ve faced along the way.
In this short interview, they discuss how it all started, the toughest moments in growing the business, and the roles or projects they’ve enjoyed most during their time leading the company.
How did you start the company and what inspired you to do so?
The Traditional Company was born from a conversation between old friends, Martin Kilgour and David House. They both come from strong farming backgrounds, which instilled in them a deep connection to the land and a respect for traditional ways of working.
At the time, Martin was running a successful landscape construction business, while David was looking to pursue a project that reflected his passion for the countryside. Through their work, both had become increasingly frustrated by the lack of high-quality craftsmanship and products—particularly in areas such as estate fencing and lawn edging.
This shared experience and perspective led to the creation of The Traditional Company, allowing them to combine their practical expertise, appreciation for heritage, and focus on design. Today, their work gives them the privilege of contributing to some of the country’s finest properties, enhancing and complementing these exceptional landscapes with thoughtfully crafted solutions.
What is your role in the company and what is a typical working day like?
David’s time is spent out on the road, visiting clients, landscape architects, and garden designers. Every meeting is an opportunity to understand the project in detail, offer practical advice, and ensure that our vision aligns perfectly with the client’s needs. With decades of experience in the field, David’s guidance is invaluable, and this face-to-face contact helps build the long-term relationships that are at the heart of The Traditional Company’s success.
Meanwhile, Martin Kilgour splits his time between developing networks across the Midlands and the North of England and overseeing our manufacturing operations at The Traditional Company Fabrication in Leicestershire. He ensures that our products—whether estate fencing, Legacy steel edging, or bespoke gates and structures—meet the exacting standards that clients have come to expect. By combining on-site knowledge with oversight of production, Martin helps keep every project running smoothly from concept to completion.
Together, their complementary roles blend client engagement, technical expertise, and quality control, ensuring that every project benefits from both personal attention and skilled craftsmanship.
How has the company grown?
Since its founding in 2012 by just the two of us, The Traditional Company has grown steadily into a team of over 25 skilled craftsmen and staff, with an annual turnover now exceeding £3 million.
In the early years, we outsourced manufacturing to a local fabricator, but as demand increased it became clear that we needed greater control over quality and production. This led to the creation of our own in-house fabrication facility, which has since expanded significantly—from 7,500 sq ft to 17,000 sq ft.
Alongside this, the business has grown operationally, evolving from two installation teams—originally based in the East Midlands and Hampshire—to a much larger, highly skilled workforce, now comprising 26 full-time staff.
While the scale of the company has developed, our core focus remains unchanged. We continue to specialise in estate fencing and our Legacy steel edging, alongside an expanding portfolio of bespoke work including entrance gates, pergolas, and rose arches.
This growth has been built on a commitment to quality, traditional craftsmanship, and the strength of our team—many of whom have been with us since the early days. We have also invested in developing skills within the business, supporting apprentices through both college training and hands-on experience in the workshop.
As we’ve grown, our approach has remained consistent: delivering well-made, durable products and taking pride in the detail of every project we undertake.
Which project are you most proud of, and what made it particularly significant for the business?
David: One of the milestones we are most proud of as a business is being awarded a Royal Warrant by His Majesty King Charles III in April 2025.
This recognition is particularly significant to us, as it reflects not just the quality of our work, but the consistency, care, and attention to detail that our team brings to every project. It is a testament to the skill and dedication of our craftsmen—many of whom have been with us since the early days of the company.
While we take great pride in all of the projects we undertake, receiving a Royal Warrant stands out as a defining moment for the business, reinforcing our commitment to traditional craftsmanship and the high standards we uphold across both our core product lines and bespoke work.
Martin: Creating an amphitheatre in a steep walled garden near Bristol was a great challenge in realising the client’s aspirations. Corten steel was used to create a series of curved steps up a steep gradient, which was challenging to set out, excavate, and install. The end result was stunning, and the client intended to use the space for events.
Being granted the Royal Warrant was a tremendous achievement for the whole team and a wonderful recognition of the hard work and dedication given by everyone over many years.
More recently, developing an automatic punching line has increased our production capabilities and freed up our skilled labour to concentrate on more stimulating work. We worked alongside a young engineer to create a fully automatic system, as there was nothing similar available to purchase. It is proving to be very successful.
How do you develop and retain skilled craftsmen, and do you offer apprenticeships or training programmes?
Developing and retaining skilled craftsmen is central to what we do. We have been fortunate to build a strong, dedicated team, with many of our craftsmen having been with us since the early days of The Traditional Company.
David and I are firm believers in apprenticeship schemes, which have proven to be a highly effective way of bringing new talent into the fabrication industry. We currently support apprentices who attend college alongside their work in the workshop, allowing them to build both technical knowledge and practical experience. It is particularly rewarding to see their skills, confidence, and ability develop over time.
Learning within the business is largely hands-on, with knowledge passed down through close collaboration with our more experienced fabricators. This mentorship is something the team takes great pride in, with senior craftsmen actively supporting and developing less experienced members.
Alongside our core work, we are also fortunate to produce a wide variety of bespoke, one-off pieces. This not only challenges and refines technical skills but also keeps the work engaging and creatively stimulating for the whole team.
By combining experience, mentorship, and formal training, we aim to create an environment where craftsmanship can continue to thrive for years to come.
How has the industry changed over the course of your career, and what has that meant for the company?
Over the course of our careers, we have seen the industry evolve in a number of ways, including a growing demand for bespoke, high-quality work and a greater appreciation for durability and long-term value over short-term cost.
As our products are rooted in a heritage style, the core aesthetic has remained relatively consistent. However, there have been notable shifts in materials and performance—particularly in timber fencing, which is often now less durable than it once was. This has contributed to increased demand for our steel products, which offer longevity and reliability.
The growth of the internet has also played a significant role, giving customers far greater visibility and access to specialist products and suppliers. This increased awareness has supported the expansion of our business and allowed us to reach a much wider audience.
One of the most significant recent challenges was the COVID-19 pandemic. We were fortunate to continue operating throughout this period, which provided stability for both our team and the business during a time of wider uncertainty. Maintaining continuity reinforced the importance of adaptability, strong team cohesion, and robust core product lines alongside bespoke work.
Overall, these changes have strengthened the company, encouraging us to remain flexible while continuing to focus on quality, reliability, and traditional craftsmanship.
How do you balance maintaining traditional craftsmanship with the need to stay commercially competitive?
Balancing traditional craftsmanship with commercial competitiveness is central to how we operate as a business.
Our core product lines—estate fencing and our Legacy steel edging—form the backbone of the company. These products are refined, consistent, and efficient to produce, providing the stability needed to support the wider business.
At the same time, we have embraced modern manufacturing methods where appropriate. The use of equipment such as laser and plasma cutting machines, along with automated punching lines, allows us to produce the majority of our components efficiently and with precision. This improves consistency and streamlines production, enabling our craftsmen to focus on the more skilled, detailed aspects of the work they most enjoy.
Alongside our standard products, our bespoke work—including entrance gates, pergolas, and rose arches—offers a different kind of value. Each project presents its own technical and creative challenges, requiring careful design and a high level of craftsmanship.
We see our products not as consumables, but as collectables—pieces designed to last and be valued over time. This philosophy underpins both our standard and bespoke work, allowing us to remain commercially competitive while staying true to the principles of traditional craftsmanship.
What was the most challenging job?
One of the most challenging projects we have undertaken was the installation of a large amphitheatre within a walled garden in North Somerset, commissioned by renowned garden designer Bunny Guinness.
The project presented a number of technical and logistical challenges, from working within the constraints of an established and enclosed garden environment to ensuring that the structure integrated seamlessly with the surrounding landscape.
It required careful planning, precise fabrication, and close collaboration to deliver a result that was both structurally sound and in keeping with the overall design vision. Projects of this nature demand not only technical skill, but adaptability and problem-solving on site.
Despite the challenges, it was a rewarding project and one that showcased the capability and versatility of our team when working on complex, bespoke installations.
What advice would you give to someone looking to build a career in this type of industry?
Building a career in this industry is about more than simply learning a trade—it involves developing a mindset that values precision, patience, and pride in the finished piece. Understanding your product and delivering it well, within an enjoyable and supportive environment, is fundamental to long-term success.
Whether manufacturing a bespoke set of entrance gates to a customer’s exact specifications or installing an estate fence that will enhance a property for generations, every task requires attention to detail and a commitment to quality.
We encourage those entering the industry to learn from experienced craftsmen, embrace both the challenges and repetition of the work, and take ownership of their development. Success comes from combining technical skill with care, creativity, and a genuine dedication to producing work that stands the test of time.
