Growth for Wells CRS under guidance of ex-Boro star and partner

David Murphy and Garry Wells, co-owners of Wells CRS, pictured in Stockton where Wells CRS have contracts. Picture: Tom Banks

Wells CRS

Former Middlesbrough player David Murphy believes the expansion of Wells CRS, the business he co-owns, will mean enough new hires to make up a football team by the summer.
Together with Wells’ founding partner, Garry Wells, David has enjoyed sizeable success during his first three years at the forefront of the commercial refurbishment specialists on Teesside.
While his involvement is not something he has been in a rush to shout about, the progress of the Middlesbrough-based company is something that the two partners are proud of.
As well as hoping to secure an apprentice plumber and electrician in the coming weeks, Wells is also looking to appoint three more electricians, another plumber and two shop fitters.
Those eight new hires will follow the two shop fitters, electrician and plumber that have arrived in recent months – all employed from the local area despite contracts nationwide.
Wells’ head office has also moved to the heart of Middlesbrough from Preston Farm Industrial Estate.
David, who started his career at Middlesbrough before spells with Hibernian and Birmingham City, said: “The last few years have been fantastic. It comes down to trust and me and Garry trust each other 100 per cent.
“We both have the same ideas and thought processes on how we want to grow and expand. It is rare in a partnership.
“For me it is a completely different world to what I was used to but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Even when I played I didn’t get wrapped up in the limelight, I just wanted to concentrate on football.
“But now I am away from that world, I am still dealing with lads on a day-to-day basis and it’s been easy to transfer skills and qualities gained from my playing career into this field. Team morale is key.”
Wells CRS is currently working on a complete refurbishment of the old Heart Foundation shop unit on Stockton High Street where the charity Vision 25 – which helps young adults with a disability gain greater independence – will be based.
It also boasts clients such as Arriva, OCS Group, Knight Frank and Stockton Council, providing a full turnkey solution to commercial refurbishment from walls, floors and ceilings to electrical and mechanical.
David, born in Hartlepool, said: “I get a buzz dealing with the clients, keeping them all happy, and it is all worth it when you see the finished product.
“I was involved in bars and clubs in Marbella and Essex during my playing days and I wanted to get involved in the refurb side of the business after I retired in 2014 because of injury.
“I did a bit in football initially, scouting, but quickly found out that staying in the game wasn’t for me. I wanted to broaden my horizons and set myself a new challenge.”
It was shortly after when David and Garry met. They have been friends ever since, which eventually led to Garry offering him the chance to get involved with the Wells brand he originally launched in 2002.
Garry, from Middlesbrough, said: “It got to the point where I needed help, not just in the office and in the field, but with someone I could trust.
“Since 2019 I have taken a bit more of a direct role with clients where before I would be doing everything. David has pulled in his contacts, added another arm to the company and together we make each other stronger.
“We are proud of what we have achieved. We are ready to go on a recruitment drive again.
“I am not just saying this either, but we genuinely look to employ from our local area because we believe in looking after our own.
“Even though we have an expense from the guys who travel down south on jobs we have, we know what we get from a North-East workforce and that is a work ethic that isn’t easy to replicate.
“It’s been an exciting journey so far and we are looking forward to seeing that continue.”
| For more information on Wells CRS services check out www.wellscrs.com