We’re celebrating a major milestone at Calldene Structural Timber Solutions, as our Managing Director Les Fuller marks 40 years with the company.

Overseeing four decades of change – from the early days of hand-drawn designs to what modern technology has to offer today – Les has seen major developments in the structural timber industry.

To mark this impressive milestone, we’ve asked Les to share his journey, the evolution of the industry and how as a business, we’ve stayed true to family-run culture throughout it all.

Q: How did your career start out?
A: My career started straight after college. I grew up in Kent and took my first role in the Dover district as a Timber Engineer. Not long after, I moved to MiTek – then known as Hydro-Air – where I became a section team leader in the design office at Halesowen in the West Midlands.

After deciding to pursue a more hands-on role, I went on to work with an architect before returning to the South Coast for a new opportunity that set the course for the next four decades.

Q: And that opportunity was joining Triad Timber Components, before it became part of Calldene. What was the business like back when you first joined?
A: I joined Triad Timber Components in February 1985 – known then as Triad Components – as Technical Manager. We were based in the original factory in Rustington, and at that time the company mainly supplied housebuilders, focusing on trussed rafters for terraced housing. There was a real ambition to expand into larger and more complex structural timber projects, and that was an exciting challenge to be part of.

Q: You must have seen the business and the wider industry go through so many changes over the years. How did those transitions shape your role?
A: Absolutely. Not long after I became Technical Director and joined the board, a recession in the early 1990s forced the owner to scale down operations. This led to a restructure and in 1991 Triad Timber Components was sold to two timber merchants from Kent, where I was retained as a General Manager.

Several years on, further changes led to an alignment with Dover Trussed Roof Company and it wasn’t long before I was managing both sides of the business.

Q: When you became Managing Director in 2015, how did the unification of the sister companies impact the direction you took the company in at that point?
A: When I was appointed Managing Director of both Dover Trussed Roof Company and Triad Timber Components, the priority was consolidation. At this time the two businesses operated separately under the Calldene Group, and became integrated under the Calldene Structural Timber Solutions banner earlier this year. Aligning our capabilities and presenting a unified offering to the market made for a stronger, more efficient and more customer-focused business.

Q: You’ve seen the industry evolve dramatically. What stands out most when you look back?
A: The technology, without question. When I first started, computers were still in their infancy. Printers used ribbons and dot-matrix systems, and a lot of our work relied on hand-drawn designs.

Fast forward to today, and we’re working with highly sophisticated digital design and precision manufacturing tools such as CAD. Each wave of change that I’ve seen come and go has brought new opportunities – but also new responsibilities to maintain quality and safety.

Q: You’ve also played a major role in the wider industry through the Trussed Rafter Association. How has that shaped your perspective?
A: I’ve served as Chairman of the TRA since 2005, and it’s been a privilege. The industry has seen a significant period of change in those 20 years – from the shift from British to European Standards in the early 2000s to the new homebuilding standards introduced in the 2020s.

My aim has always been to help the sector remain harmonised, adaptable and committed to high standards. It’s work I’m very proud to contribute to.

Q: This year marks several personal milestones for you. What does reaching 40 years at Calldene mean?
A: It means a great deal. But what makes it truly special are the people I’ve worked with along the way. Even as we’ve grown to a multi-million pound turnover business, we’ve still managed to maintain the family-run character and strong culture that defines us.

My son now works here, and several of our team have been with us for more than 30 years – including someone I hired straight from school at the start of my career. That loyalty runs deep. It’s what makes this business such a special place to work.

Q: Finally, what values do you think have kept Calldene strong throughout all these years?
A: Quality, reliability and service. Technology has transformed how we operate, but those core values have never changed, and they never will.

As Calldene continues to evolve, Les’s commitment to the business and the wider industry remains as strong as ever. His four decades of leadership have helped shape our company’s direction, but also the people and culture that define it today.

With a legacy built on quality, integrity and a passion for structural timber engineering, Les’s journey is a testament to what can be achieved when expertise and dedication go hand in hand – and the future of Calldene is all the stronger for it.