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About Us

Introduction

Since 1907 Frank Key have been renowned for supplying market-leading building, plumbing and timber materials. Built on family values, we have grown to now stock interiors, landscaping, civils and drainage products, as well as providing high-quality plant and tool hire equipment, making Frank Key your true one-stop shop for all your project requirements.

Our reputation is not only built on the wide range of products we sell but how we do business. Given our experience within the industry and with many of the Frank Key team being long-standing members of staff, we are in the best position to provide you with the expert advice and service you need. We will order non-stocked items, we stick to our delivery dates and we honour our agreements.

Frank Key understands that convenience and getting the right product, at the right time and place are important to all our customers, as such we now cover a larger area across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Yorkshire and Lancashire. Furthermore, for your convenience, our fleet of vehicles can deliver the products and plant tools you need, when and where you need them.


History

Frank Key Group Limited, is a large privately owned, independent builders merchant and plant & tool hire specialist across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Yorkshire and Lancashire. We have over 100 years of history providing exceptional customer service to the industry since being founded by Mr Frank Key in 1907.

We stay at the forefront of business by keeping abreast of new market developments and growing close customer relationships. In fact, the key to our success is providing outstanding customer service every time.
People are key to our business, many of our staff are longstanding employees with many years experience of working in the industry and enjoy working in a company built on family values, the essence of Frank Key for over one hundred years.

Following the hard war years, we have grown and now have builder’s yards, showrooms, landscaping displays and hire branches across Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Yorkshire and Lancashire, supplying everything from cement for foundations to fitted bedroom wardrobes. Frank Key, is more than just a builder’s merchant.

1907

Our first builder's merchant shop was founded by Mr Frank Key in Mansfield.

1953

We moved to our present Daybrook Head Office premises in 1953 and have been expanding ever since, including the acquisition of the adjoining showroom for our Interior products.

1977

We launched our plant hire company, which was shortly followed by our skip hire service, making Frank Key the only true one-stop shop for building project supplies and equipment in Nottingham.

2006

We opened our landscaping centre at Timmermans Garden Centre. With all our landscaping ranges on show and with a dedicated expert on-site, it is ideal for people who wish to take their time, in a quiet environment, rather than our busy main yards.

2007

Following several years of successfully selling kitchens to the trade, we set up our Kitchen and Bathroom showroom, offering a wide variety of suppliers and styles. We can supply all customers from large contractors to members of the public, along with our state-of-the-art planning software, we can help you build the ideal kitchen.

2008

The group expanded further acquiring two further sites in Bulwell and Somercotes. Both offer a full range of building, timber and landscaping supplies and enable us to extend our famous customer service to more customers.

2010

We opened a new dedicated showroom allowing us to feature log burners, stoves, fireplaces, bedroom furniture and flooring. Named Home Solutions this interiors showroom can be found on Nottingham Road, Daybrook with dedicated experts available to help you plan your room.

2012

To extend the Frank Key Plant and Tool Hire business, the renowned Nottinghamshire plant and tool hire brand Sinbad was acquired by the company, strengthening our position as the premier independent hire company in Nottinghamshire.

2012

We continued to build on our long-established relationship with The Builders Centre when acquiring the Sheffield branch of the building products and supplies wholesaler.

2015

The biggest year of acquisition to date was when Frank Key acquired Banson Tool Hire, Charles Watson (Ironmongery) and Clower & Son. This allowed Frank Key to extend its reach across Derbyshire, Yorkshire and Lancashire, providing high-quality products when and where our customers need them.

2018

We opened Patioworld by Frank Key, our dedicated outdoor landscaping and paving centre at Brookfields Garden Centre, Mapperley Plains, Nottingham.

2019

We carried out a complete refurbishment and relaunch of our Sheffield operation, making it our flagship Building Supplies, Plant & Tool Hire and Kitchens & Bathrooms Showroom branch. 


We are excited about what the future holds as we continue to grow, understand our customer’s needs and deliver high-quality products with the exceptional customer advice you expect.


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