By Roger Hartshorn, CEO Garnalex & Sheerline.

As a business owner, I’ve always been mindful of planning for the future of my businesses. It’s important to establish the end goal early on so you can work towards it with purpose.

That goal might be to grow profitability and eventually sell, to close the company when you retire, or to pass it on to the next generation, whether to family members or a trusted management team.

Whichever the chosen path, I believe the requirements are the same: continued investment in people, products and tooling.

Building companies that last

Across all my businesses – Eurocell, Liniar (HL Plastics), Tarpey Harris and now Garnalex (Sheerline) – my main objective has been to create something strong, enduring, and genuinely beneficial for the business and industry, always taking a long-term view.

I’m proud to say that I’ve achieved this. All four companies continue to grow and thrive, and together they now directly employ 2,900 people in the Amber Valley area (and in the case of Eurocell, across the UK through its Trade Counter network).

In addition, analysis by the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) and Oxford Economics (2024) indicates that for every direct job in UK manufacturing, approximately 1.8 additional jobs are supported elsewhere in the economy through supply chain and induced effects. Based on this multiplier, the four companies together support a total employment footprint of more than 8,000 jobs.

Innovation at the heart

Each business began with product or service innovation and investment in the latest facilities and equipment. We focused on solving real problems faced by window fabricators, installers, and homeowners – designing products that not only meet expectations but exceed them.

Eurocell and Liniar PVC-U windows remain rooted in principles of energy efficiency and sleek aesthetics.

More recently, the Sheerline range has helped bring the aluminium sector into the modern era, elevating both product performance and service levels. The company is fully vertically integrated, which enables deliveries within five days of ordering and ensures every order arrives complete for each customer contract. There are no excuses, with fully accountable staff and service levels.

Leadership for the future

It’s important to me that my focus and legacy are maintained, so succession planning is key. I’m delighted to announce that from January 2026, the management of Garnalex will be strengthened with the announcement of a new senior management structure.

This will start the process of letting the younger generation start to take the operational lead under my watchful eye as chairman.

My son Ross Hartshorn is promoted to managing director, with his younger brother Ben promoted to technical director. Emma Arrell will remain in place as finance director. All have been involved in the business since the start of Garnalex and Sheerline and I have full confidence in their ability to drive the business forward with their respective teams.

This decision has been planned for some time, with a view to my retirement in the next three to four years. Overseeing the build of a new facility in 2026/2027 on land already in our ownership with planning permission granted, together with keeping hold of the reins as chairman of Garnalex, I’ll have plenty to keep me busy in the meantime.

Customers can rest assured that Garnalex will continue to operate just as efficiently as it does today – perhaps even more so!

Looking ahead with confidence

I’m looking forward to supporting the Group and team in a more strategic role, while continuing to champion the vision we’ve built together. Our foundations are strong, the product pipeline is robust, and the leadership team is well prepared to lead Garnalex into its next phase of growth.

Over the next few years, my role will gradually evolve. I’ll continue to offer guidance where needed, help keep our long-term plans on track, and remain just as accessible as I always have been.

Garnalex has always been about more than just products; it’s been about people, innovation and the desire to raise standards across our industry. That won’t change.

I remain incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported the journey so far – thank you to all of our customers, partners, colleagues, and the wider community. Together we’ve achieved something remarkable, and I’m excited to see what the next chapter brings for all of us.