Harry Barker Properties Ltd is a company that specialises in all stages of groundworks, house utilisation and deliver projects for major clients.
Founded in 1978 in Askam by Harry Barker Senior, the company has grown into the successful enterprise it is today in the community.
Lucy Barker from HBP said: “In 2022, we are proud to remain a family run business led by our current Managing Director Harry Barker since 2000.
“The business has been running for over 40 years and was formed following a conversation in Harry’s local pub The Bay Horse in Askam in Furness with his friend Tom Butler. Tom had mentioned that a utility agent was looking for a Grab Wagon to cover the Cumbria area removing spoil and backfilling all utility trenches.
“Harry replied “I have an expert Grab Wagon Driver” which unbeknown to Harry Junior was him. The next day Harry and his son went and bought a Grab Wagon and they started working for various utility companies across the North West. Over the years this went from one grab wagon to ten at its peak.
“Since Harry has taken over, he has grown the business from just him and his father to 50+ employees offering a wide range of services from Groundworks, Housing Developments, Plant and Machinery Hire, Aggregate supplies, and spoil removal from our own Quarry in Askam and today we are still providing utility companies with our Grab wagons.
“We have never been nominated for any awards previously and have never attended an awards ceremony.
“The whole team was honoured to make the final of the North West Family Business Awards and we thoroughly enjoyed the judging process and the night. We are unsure in particular about what led us to being shortlisted but we probably stood out with our efforts, donations, and sponsorships within the local community.
We work extensively within the local community with both sponsorship and charity work. We believe that working with those who are closest to us is an important part of the family values which we run our business by.”
Our sponsorships and donations are all proudly displayed on our website. Some of these include:
The sponsorship of local sport teams: We sponsor both Askam Rugby team and the Football team. Our sponsorship has helped with the season kits, training equipment and refurbishment of the changing rooms. As a result of our sponsorship of Askam United Football Club the club has gone from being without junior teams to five and having over 100 players signed on with 12 coaches at the club.”
“We also donate to a chosen charity every Christmas. Most recently being Barrow Food Bank and new toys to The Salvation Army Christmas Toy appeal.
“Something that is specifically important to us for our future is maintaining our high-quality service and developing on our reliable reputation as groundworks contractors in Cumbria. Our family values are reflected throughout our business and we will continue to make this stand out in our working environment.
“HBP would like to give a special thanks to all current and previous staff for their commitment and hard work they put into our family business to make it what it is.”
