17 May 2024

Matthew talked us through the history of this local success story. Johns of Nottingham was originally established in 1909 as Horace Johns under the name of H Johns Decorators Ltd. It has since grown to become a leading third generation business providing decorative, insurance reinstatement and facilities management services across the UK.

So, what’s the key to Johns’ success? Renowned for its high-quality workmanship and services, Matthew attributes the company’s long and proud history to both diversification and its people. The company still retains its National Federation of Master Painters and Decorators accreditation today, which was first awarded in 1911. Newly named Johns Decorators Ltd in the 1940s, it changed direction and later won a nationwide contract for Currys to decorate and signwrite the majority of its stores.

The company moved to Woodborough Road in the 1970s and became known as Johns of Nottingham in 1976. The following decades saw Johns win large commercial contracts, including Princess Alexandra Hospital, and the opening of its own decorating centre, still open to the trade and public today. The 90s saw a new division open serving the insurance reinstatement services claims sector. This division now boasts more than 6,000 claims completions.

But all this success would not have happened without its people… The average employee retention rate at Johns of Nottingham is more than 16 years. Some have served 60 years. The business has a strong engagement with local colleges and has its own apprenticeship programme through the CITB. Indeed, it has just been named SME Employer of the Year once again at the Nottingham College Apprenticeship Awards 2024.

Thank you to Matthew for sharing his family’s inspirational business story.