WHEN we talk about a business being built into the foundations of Carlisle, there's perhaps no better example than a steelworks firm that has built many of the city's newest and what will eventually become long standing instituitions.
For 40 years Border Steelwork Structures has provided structural steelwork, roof and wall cladding, and rainwater systems not only just in Carlisle but as far up as Montrose in Scotland all the way down south.
The business which was incorporated in 1978 by David Downie, who still operates as the managing director, has been invested in many of the city's large scale building projects such as the Carlisle Lake District Airport, the new Mercedes garage, Thomas Grahams, Trinity School, Nestle UK, Hespin Wood waste site, Cumbria County Council offices and perhaps their newest and most exciting project, the new Sands Centre.
Paul McConnell, who joined last September as health safety environment and quality manager, said it's a business that brings with it a real sense of achievement.
"When you get something on a piece of paper, you're imagination can only take you so far. When you actually see the steel going up and the exterior of the building be created, it's a really nice picture.
"And when it's new shiny and clean and you step back and think that's what the business is about, building high quality buildings that look absolutely stunning.
"Everytime we go past the new Sands Centre now, we have a great sense of achievement. Especially when you're doing something in your hometown, you know exactly what it's going to mean to the people who live there - to know you are part of something that will be there for decades is really special," he said.
The business looks to increase its capacity as it has recently moved from its original townhouse building on Warwick Road to Kingstown, a move which will eventually bring with it more employment.
"We've now got the space to bring new people into the office, now we can expand our headcount it would hopefully be nice to double our current takeover in the next five years or so and branch out into different industries that we've not previously done before," he said.
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