This third generation family business was established in Blake Street, Hulme, by John Mills in 1908. The grandson of the founder, Peter Mills joined the business in 1977 and became Managing Director in 1987. The majority of the company’s work is carried out in the Manchester area.

J Mills Contractors carries out responsive maintenance and pub, office, industrial and commercial refurbishment. Summing up the company’s philosophy, office manager Sandra Smith says: “Flexibility is the key.” She explains: “If somebody calls at 8:30am with an emergency leak we will be there by 10am.” As well as fast response to calls the company employs a flexible workforce with skills including plumbing, joinery and plastering. Sandra says: “We don’t have to waste time looking for somebody else to do a job when our own 48 operatives have the necessary skills.”

MD Peter Mills agrees that the long serving and dedicated workforce is central to the company’s excellent reputation. He says: “We have a loyal and long-standing workforce who are loyal to each other.” The turnover of staff is low with the average service length being seven years.

The company operates its own fleet of commercial vehicles with mobile phones to ensure responsive maintenance.

This flexible approach extends to obliging the customer by carrying out extra jobs whilst on site. “If we are sent out to fix a faulty fire door and the customer asks for another job we oblige while on site. We don’t say it’s not on the job sheet,” says Sandra. Quite a refreshing change from the irritating ‘jobsworth’ mentality!

The company’s clients include global leaders in commercial real estate Jones Lang LaSalle and DTZ. J Mills also carries out pub refurbishment for Punch Taverns, County Estates and Joseph Holt. As well as dealing with major firms in industry the firm also handles small projects.

Due to the current economic climate the firm is busier on the maintenance side than with refurbishment. Even in a downturn, buildings still have to be maintained, especially now that health and safety regulations are de rigueur. The firm has recently sent its operatives on intensive health and safety courses.

In a business where fast response and flexibility are the key, it is vital that professional advice is equally seamless. Peter explains: “Cassons look after everything for us and it all happens seamlessly. Nick organises everything that we need with regard to the accounts, audit and tax – plus other financial matters – while Agnes and her team look after the payroll.

Sandra continues: “As office manager, payroll is my responsibility. It is huge relief for me to know that Agnes is dealing with all of our payroll matters. I know that absolutely everything will be dealt with accurately, efficiently – and on time! We simply send Cassons the details of how many hours each member of staff has worked each week or month and everything just happens! Everyone is paid directly into their bank accounts by BACS transfer, their pay slips are produced and all of our monthly and annual returns for HMRC are completed. It is an excellent and very well organised service. I don’t have to worry about anything!"

Agnes Flanagan, Cassons' Payroll Manager,  enthuses: “It is a delight to work with Sandra and her team as they make sure that we have the correct information available at the right time each month. That gives us the time we need to make sure all of the payments and paperwork run smoothly. I enjoy knowing that we have removed a burden from them.”

Cassons partner Nick Stockton has the final word. “We provide an all-embracing service for J Mills. We have worked with them for many years and over time, as their business has expanded, we have extended the services we provide for them. In fact when we first became accredited for BACS they were our very first client to have their payroll transmitted by BACS!