Arcura’s story begins in the early 1980s, when Gavin started a joinery apprenticeship in Kingston. Over three and a half years, he developed a strong foundation in craftsmanship, attention to detail, and a practical approach to problem solving principles that continue to underpin the business today.
After qualifying, Gavin gained further experience working within a bespoke kitchen company, where he developed a broader understanding of client requirements, site coordination, and delivering high quality outcomes.
In 1986, he established his own business, Woodpecker Joinery, operating from a garage in Sutton. The early work focused on traditional joinery, supporting local builders and domestic projects. As demand evolved, so did the business. Window installations became a more consistent requirement, and over time this area grew into a core part of the service offering.
In 1990, Gavin’s father, Colin, joined the business, forming a partnership that helped drive its next stage of growth. The company continued trading as Woodpecker Joinery, while also developing the Woodpecker Windows name as the focus increasingly shifted towards specialist window solutions.
As the business expanded, the team moved from its original garage setup into a permanent premises in Croydon. This marked an important step forward, providing the space and structure needed to support continued growth.
By the early 2000s, the direction of the business was clear. Joinery was phased out in 2002, allowing the company to fully focus on windows, where there was stronger demand, improved scalability, and greater opportunity for long-term development.
Over time, the team grew and strengthened. In 1995, Scott joined the business and developed experience across all areas, from workshop and site operations through to estimating, surveying, and project delivery. Like many within Arcura, his role evolved alongside the company itself, contributing to its progression and stability.
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, the business continued to mature, taking on a wider range of projects and refining how it operated. Originally working across local builders, extensions, and smaller developments, the company gradually shifted its focus towards new build projects.
This led to a more defined strategic direction. The business began concentrating on sectors where technical expertise, compliance, and reliability are essential including care homes, mid to high-rise residential developments, and hotel and accommodation projects. Alongside this, a clear vision was established: to become the go-to window and door specialist, known for consistent delivery, technical capability, and long-term partnerships.
In 2016, the company rebranded from Woodpecker Windows to Arcura. The change reflected both the evolution of the business and its positioning within more specialist, design led sectors.
Arcura Limited was incorporated in 2017, and in 2023, the transition of day to day operations into the limited company structure was completed. This marked a significant step in aligning the business with its scale, structure, and future growth.
Like many businesses, Arcura faced challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic. Activity slowed across the industry, but the focus remained on maintaining stability, improving internal processes, and adapting where needed. This period strengthened the business operationally and reinforced its ability to respond to change.
Today, Arcura operates as a specialist window contractor working across the UK. The business is built on long-term experience, practical knowledge, and a consistent approach to delivery, with a continued focus on achieving its vision of becoming the go-to window and door specialist within its chosen sectors.
While the company has evolved significantly over the years, the core principles remain the same doing things properly, working collaboratively, and delivering reliable outcomes across every project.
