Our History

Back in 1947, on leave from the RAF, Hugh Terrence Brigham met a friend who worked as a buyer for Hardy Spicer. This friend, mentioned that he was having serious difficulties sourcing some metal stampings. With £80 in his pocket, which his mum had saved for him whilst he was away, Hugh offered to take his friend’s order with no idea how he would fulfil it.

Hugh quickly found a shed to rent in Perry Barr for 5 shillings a week, and began production of metal stampings with one handpress, delivering the right thing, to the right place, at the right time using his motorcycle and sidecar. The rapidly expanding business soon outgrew this tiny shed and new premises were found on the first floor of a former pub in Berner’s Steet, Lozells. Even back then Hugh realised that teamwork makes light work — Hugh’s dad worked the presses whilst his mum cut up material so that they could get it up the stairs and his wife, Margaret, joined them to satisfy the increasing administrative burden.

By the mid-fifties the business was thriving, and Hugh set up a toolroom to make his own tools, and expanded into adjoining premises, with the purchase of the firm’s first power press. Unfortunately, the residents where in uproar from the noise, and local newspapers went so far to say, ‘He now faces utter and complete ruin’. It became apparent even to Hugh, that he needed to find new premises and the business moved to Coleshill. However, this new location had its own issues. No experienced press operators, no public transport, no street lighting, and no mains drainage. It also had no heating, and this was a big issue, as the move came in a cold November. Hugh and Margaret had an uncanny ability to embrace change, and they solved each problem in turn. Decade after decade saw the business grow into new markets, as its reputation for honesty, trust and commitment preceded it. Hugh and Margaret stayed in Coleshill, expanding our current premises several times over.

Following Hugh’s death in 1986, Margaret continued to run the business until her own death in 1997, when she left the business in trust, where it remained until it passed back to private hands through a management buyout in 2022.

Our current team have returned to the past to document how our culture has developed. Brigham is a special place with a special way of working. Our values help us to constantly push forward but we will never forget how we got here. We take pride in what we do, and our roots are a great source of our pride. We are extremely excited about where we are going. Our vision, mission, and purpose, all take inspiration from Hugh and Margaret, and everyone who has played a part in our development. Ours is a great culture, and we are committed to keeping it.