Northants company, See Limited, is marking a decade in business with a commitment to ensure sustainability and innovation remain at the heart of its operations as it continues in its growth plans.

Established in August 2016, See Limited – which stands for supporting ethical enterprise – is a group-holding company operating in the built environment industry specialising in the distribution and fabrication of wood veneer and decorative laminate panels.

Its formation followed a period of significant change within the Group’s existing businesses. At the helm is See Limited’s CEO Robert Thompson. Under his leadership, a new culture was established, along with stronger values and a clearer identity.

Reflecting on the company’s beginnings, Robert said: “Back in 2016 we had an opportunity to create a group that was more influential but also more representative of what we wanted to stand for.

“Ethics was at the heart of that. However, Supporting Ethical Enterprise was not just a name. We wanted to establish something that represented who we were and, importantly, something that would remain true to those values for the long term.”

Ten years on, See Limited is being recognised for championing sustainability and innovation which is reflected in its plethora of regional and national award wins, including winning the Sustainability Award at the Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards (NBEAs), the Gold Award for Business Innovation at SME Northamptonshire Business Awards and Innovation of the Year at the National Building and Construction Awards.

“The award wins have been fantastic at highlighting the work of the team in sustainability and innovation over the last decade,” continues Robert. “But one of the most significant milestones for us has to be the growing recognition of See Limited amongst our customers, suppliers and industry peers.

“Ten years ago, people would ask, ‘who are See?’ but now we’re seen as an entity in our own right which, for me personally, is one of the nicest things.”

As See Limited enters its next decade, investment in its people remains central to its ambitions. Robert’s role has evolved from being heavily involved in the day-to-day running of the business, now taking a more strategic position with greater focus on mentoring and developing the next generation of leaders.

“I’m incredibly proud of the team we have,” said Robert. “We have great people with strong ethics, talent and ambition, and that allows us to keep pushing into new areas.”

As for the next ten years, See Limited’s ambition is to continue innovating, developing new products and exploring opportunities beyond its existing markets. This includes investigating new ways to reduce waste, improve efficiency and develop more sustainable solutions across its operations.

Among its current projects is an ambitious programme exploring how wood waste can be converted into renewable electricity. The company is working with the University of Northampton and Aston University to investigate how waste and energy costs can be addressed in a more environmentally responsible and cost-effective way through a closed-loop approach.

The company is also exploring opportunities in new areas of technology and innovation, including developments with battery storage.

Of his hopes for the next ten years, Robert said: “For me, the next decade is about innovation, opportunity and continuing to evolve.

“I want us to be at the forefront of something new and although we have done well, tomorrow is another day. That mindset – to keep going, keep improving and keep moving forward – is what drives us.”

For more information about See Limited, visit www.see-limited.com