Greg Johnson, Managing Director of G-Award Fabricator of the Year Warwick North West, participated in a thought-provoking panel discussion on entrepreneurship and leadership at the 2025 FIT Show.
During the three-day premier event for the fenestration industry, Greg joined fellow panellists Ryan Breslin (Cherwell Windows), Stuart Dantzic (Caribbean Blinds), and Sarah Cresswell (The Glass and Glazing Federation) for a session facilitated by Robin Clevett at Birmingham’s NEC.
The discussion examined business management in the fenestration industry and had a particular focus on taking the reins of family businesses, an experience Greg, Ryan, and Stuart all shared.
Greg spoke openly about his personal journey, which saw him starting on Warwick’s factory floor and progressing through the company until he eventually stepped into the director’s role in 2021. He recounted the challenges he faced introducing new ways of working to help modernise the business.
During the 45-minute panel, Greg highlighted Warwick’s innovative approach to the industry-wide skills shortage by focusing on company culture, which has helped boost staff retention to over 90%.
He also shared an anecdote about how his vision for the business differed from his father’s: “My father used to ask our employees what they did at Warwick. New starters would always say ‘windows’, which isn’t wrong, but this isn’t what he meant. He wanted to show them that their role contributed to the success of the business, so he would say that, yes, they make windows, but importantly, they were there to make a profit.
When I took over as MD, I wanted to take that messaging a step further. I wanted to show the team that we make windows, we make profit, and we make a real difference to our local community.
This philosophy has guided everything we do. As a business owner, I’m passionate about making real change in our community, which is why we’ve donated £25,000 to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, partnered with organisations that create employment opportunities for ex-offenders and disadvantaged young people, and appointed our own dedicated Social Value Manager.’’
Greg continued to state that this kind of charitable, community-led leadership is something he would like to see more of, helping to showcase the good in the industry.
A key message from Greg was encouraging leaders to have courage with the choices they make for their business. “You should be brave and bold in your decisions. Even if there is some doubt or you feel cautious, taking that leap is what makes an entrepreneur.’’
When discussing his time on the panel, Greg described the experience as enlightening. “It was great to attend and speak at the FIT Show. I particularly enjoyed sharing the panel with other leaders who have inherited family businesses. The similarities in our experiences were striking, and we’ve all had to make tough decisions to modernise operations, often against the wishes of the family members we took over from! I learned a lot, and it was an invaluable experience.”
Warwick North West, based in Liverpool, is a leading manufacturer of uPVC and aluminium products and the reigning G-Awards Fabricator of the Year.
For more information on Warwick North West, visit www.warwicknorthwest.co.uk or call 0151 933 3030.
