DALES FABRICATIONS - Key Persons
Andy joined the business as a draftsman in 1995 and has worked in numerous roles within the organisation, including Project Manager, and Technical Representative for the Midlands and North of England, before joining the management team in 2009.
Andy was invited to become Operations Director in 2014. Having been part of Dales for twenty-eight successful years, Andy was appointed Managing Director in January 2023.
As Managing Director, Andy is responsible for the day-to-day running of the company. His first management decision was that Dales must improve its environmental performance by achieving the Environmental Management System ISO EN BS 14001 by the end of 2023.
Qualifications: HND Building, MIET
Colin Dales - Chief Commercial Officer
Job Titles:
- COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR
- KEY STAFF Member
Colin started work at the company on the shop-floor. Over the years, he progressed through all departments culminating in the position of Managing Director for six years from 1996 to 2003.
After 13 years Colin left the business to study law and later qualified as a Barrister, practicing at the independent Bar.
Shortly after completing his A levels, David joined the business in 2014 as an apprentice, studying Manufacturing Engineering BEng. Marking his success within the business, David progressed to his current role as Head of Production at the beginning of 2024.
Day-to-day, David's responsibilities include leading the Production department, assigning delivery dates, producing manufacturing drawings, ordering stock & material, and training newcomers to the Production department.
Qualifications: BEng (Hons) Manufacturing Engineering
Frank Dales founded Dales Fabrications in 1977 to meet the need for precision, purpose-made steel gutters for the UK construction industry, later expanding the business through an expertise in aluminium fabrications and developing standard aluminium gutters and pipes.
Dales has grown consistently over the years and now design and manufacture a comprehensive range of aluminium building products. The company has flourished through an emphasis on cost effective and well-engineered bespoke fabricated aluminium solutions.
With an unprecedented demand for their products over the last few years Dales continue to rise to the challenge. Production capacity has kept pace with increasing demand through Managing Director, Karl Prosser's Investment for Growth strategy, which ensures that the very latest CADCAM manufacturing plant and technology are installed at both Dales' factories in Ilkeston.
Frank Dales, founded Dales Fabrications as sole proprietor in September 1977 in a small factory unit in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, with the intention of designing and manufacturing pressed-steel gutters for industrial building; a growing market since the problems with asbestos cement roofs had only just been discovered.
A used guillotine was purchased, with one machinery supplier kindly lending a press-brake despite Frank having no credit history at all, no doubt because Frank was viewed as a man of utter integrity.
The business grew successfully and in 1980 was incorporated as a private limited company which then moved to a purpose-built factory at Crompton Road in Ilkeston in 1981, where it still trades from to this day…. Frank often said how there were no doors on that new factory unit for the first few days, but always willing to overcome hurdles he simply slept at the premises overnight with nothing more than a flask of coffee, cigarettes, the dog & a pick axe handle, thankfully, he only needed the first 2 of those.
The early 80's was a time of great conflict in industry, with recession caused by the 14-week British Steel strike of 1981 affecting the fledgling business severely. It seemed to Frank that everything might come to an end, however, perhaps showing the same fight and determination that got him though his battle with TB in the first year of his life, Frank refused to give up and battled on. It seems that he did not escape the battle for the business unscathed though, as the severe depression that he suffered from probably first came to light around that time. Depression was to continue to dog him despite his success, and ultimately, it was only in retirement that he found a more peaceful existence.
Always ambitious, Frank wanted to supply his products across the UK and worked with many architects and projects, particularly in London. It was through these London contacts that he became involved in the Association of Building Component Manufacturers. He enjoyed his involvement, becoming Chairman, and was invited to sit on European harmonisation committees for products and technical standards relevant to the business he had founded.
It was no doubt due to his low-income upbringing that Frank developed his generous charitable instincts and maintained a modest lifestyle. His charitable instincts included setting up a charitable foundation funded by the business purely for the benefit of those local to Ilkeston and involvement with the initial setting up the Erewash Credit Union (now trading as the Derbyshire Community Bank): Frank was the first account holder and was delighted to be involved.
Frank is remembered by those that met and knew him for his generosity of spirit, kindness, integrity and warmth all combined with his light-hearted and self-effacing sense of humour.
Job Titles:
- Dales As a Project Manager
- HEAD of TECHNICAL
James joined Dales as a Project Manager 15 years ago and progressed to his current role as Head of Technical at the beginning of 2024.
James heads up the Project Management Department, overseeing and managing contracts from the initial point of order to job completion, creating CAD designs and offering technical support.
Qualifications: BSc (Hons) Product Design
Karl has been involved at Dales on a senior level since his appointment as Company Secretary in 2009 and was Managing Director from 2013 - 2022.
Following the consistent growth of the company under Karl's watchful eye as Managing Director, he became Chairman in January 2023. In his role as Chairman, Karl is focussed on the strategic management of the company rather than the daily running of the business.
Qualified and experienced as both a (graduate) Engineer and Barrister, Karl has undertaken roles in the military, private legal practice and in senior-management.
Qualifications: Barrister, PgDip(Law), BSc(Hons-1st), AMRAeS, IEng, MIET
Kathryn joined the family business in 2014, following a 19 year career with the NHS as an RGN.
Managing the Administration & Accounts function at Dales, Kathryn fulfils the role of Company Secretary and is also in charge of Occupational Health & Employee Welfare.
Qualifications: DipHE
Michael joined the business in November 2021.
Michael has spent the last 20 years in various external sales roles, with the last 14 years within the aluminium eaves sector.
He brings a wealth of experience from many years of working together with architects, contractors, and installers.
Qualifications: BA (Hons) Human Resource Management
Mike joined the business in 2014, with 14 years of experience as an estimator, 7 of which were as a senior estimator.
Mike heads up Dales Estimating department. Day to day, Mike is involved in reviewing enquiries, liaising with customers, costing projects, and developing & designing new products.
Mike is also our Solar Shading specialist, drawing on his wealth of knowledge and experience to collaborate in the composition and delivery of Dales CPD seminars.
Qualifications: BSc (Hons) Microbiology
Nicola began her career with Smith Cooper LLP in 2007, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in September 2011. Nicola remained with Smith Cooper until March 2015 when she joined Dales.
After graduating from university in 2002 & qualifying as a Building Surveyor, Tom started work at Dales as a junior project manager. He successfully worked his way up through the design and sales departments and was promoted to Technical Director in 2017.
Tom's key responsibilities are overseeing the project management department and managing several major sales accounts, as well as his involvement in the continued development of the company's key products.
Qualifications: BSc(Hons), MIET