WE Manin - Company History - How It All Began

WE Manin's previous locations in Crescent Street and Station Street.

WE Manin Ltd was formed by Mr William (Bill) Manin prior to the second World War in Crescent Street, Sittingbourne (now the site of the Forum Shopping Centre). Manin operated within the Sittingbourne area as a small but specialised electrical contractor, expanding during the post-war years and relocating to No. 35 Station Street, Sittingbourne, employing some thirty operatives and staff.

The company’s development continued into the 1970s until it was acquired by firstly:- Parnell Electrical Industries Ltd, in 1970, and subsequently incorporated in 1973 into the Brightside Mechanical and Electrical Services Group Ltd. The group being a wholly owned subsidiary of George Wimpey Ltd.

During 1984-5 the Sittingbourne division of Brightside was acquired in a management buyout and resurrected its former name of WE Manin Ltd. The company, led by its Managing Director, Bernard Hilling, had by this time grown considerably, particularly in local authority work e.g. schools etc., government projects. 1989-1990 saw the purchase of a prime site in Ufton Lane, Sittingbourne on which a redundant factory unit was demolished and a new purpose built office accommodation of some 6000 square feet was constructed.