Fylde coast Wood craft team go back to their roots

A Fylde craftsman has returned to his roots to launch his own bespoke joinery business.
Alex Aitken of Woodside DesignsAlex Aitken of Woodside Designs
Alex Aitken of Woodside Designs

Former St Bede’s pupil, Alex Aitken, 24, has started Woodside Designs at Whitehill’s Business Park.

Alex bought the machinery and leased the building from his former boss Alistair Johnson at Johnson’s Manufactured Joinery who decided to retire in August 2016.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The firm builds high-end wood creations such as curved staircases, sliding sash windows free standing and fitted furniture for exclusive clients in Lytham and across the North West.

The Woodside Designs teamThe Woodside Designs team
The Woodside Designs team

After leaving school Alex did his apprenticeship training in bench joinery at Johnson’s followed by an HNC in construction at Blackpool and The Fylde college.

He said: “during that time I started training in the office on pricing along with dealing with customers and drawings with a view to improving my skills. I won two highly commended awards in the apprentice of the year awards and while I was there I rented space at Johnson’s workshop.

“I took over a company called Funky Fencing which I ran from there and exhibited at the Grand Design Show at the NEC in Birmingham.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Funky Fencing made specialist bespoke fencing for schools and other clients.”

The Woodside Designs teamThe Woodside Designs team
The Woodside Designs team

He then decided to move on and become self employed which he did for more than two years.

“Then the opportunity came about at the old business. The boss wanted to retire so I bought the machinery off him and leased the building.

“Our main customer base is in Lytham but there is always call further afield as well.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“I am looking to grow the business but at the moment we have Five full time employees working here at Unit 12 and 14 Woodside.

“It is always interesting to meet clients, many of whom are very successful people and hear about how they achieved what they have done.

“I love working with the wood and the attention to detail. It is very important to us that a job is completed as near to perfect as possible.”

Alex said he got the bug for working with wood when he was around five years old. He used to go to his grandad’s joinery business, “Unsworth” in Worsley, Manchester regularly and said the industry was in his blood.

Related topics: