Discover how Tower has been making the workplace a better place since 1983.
1983
Jonathan Aris launches Tower Supplies. The company’s first HQ is a small garage on Tower Road in Bournemouth.
1996
Tower introduces its ‘Bear’ brand of durable wearable products – the first of which is ‘Bear Gear’. Today, we have ‘Bear’ products in a number of PPE categories.
2003
We start our relationship with one of the world’s largest cruise lines, Carnival.
2005
Tower is certified to ISO 9001, the quality standard.
2007
We work with Carnival UK and Go-Jo to develop a new hand sanitisation regimen. This includes developing a completely new product, testing and certification. It is adopted by Carnival globally.
2012
We launch ‘Fire Bear’, our signature brand of flame retardant and arc protective clothing designed specifically to meet EN61482 (the electric arc protection standard).
2012
Tower becomes the PPE uniform supplier to the AA.
2013
Tower is certified to ISO 14001, the environmental standard.
2015
Tower becomes a supplier for the Government’s framework for PPE.
2016
We move into our 75,000sq-foot distribution centre in Holton Heath. This gives us the capacity for tens of thousands of barcoded product locations and an in-house logo application facility.
2017
Our innovative electronic ordering portal, CTRL Cloud, gives our customers greater purchasing power – ensuring they get the right product, at the right price, at the right time.
2017
Tower becomes a member of the British Safety Industry Federation and its Registered Safety Supplier scheme. An obligation of this scheme is the annual product audit testing conducted by a UKAS approved testing laboratory.
2017
Tower becomes a qualified supplier to Achilles UVDB.
2018
Tower joins the BTTG – the globally recognised test house for PPE and clothing.
2018
Tower is certified to ISO 45001, the occupational health and safety management system standard.
2018
Tower joins the Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
2018
Tower becomes a Diamond Executive Partner of the CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) Hotel Operations, Food and Beverage community.
2018
P&O Ferries start using Tower for PPE, uniform and goods-not-for-resale.
2018
Charles Aris becomes Chief Executive Officer.
2020
The pandemic hits and Tower supports the cruise industry by working with Public Health and Hotel Teams to produce the ‘return to service’ protocols for safe travel. We also secure large stocks of PPE, ensuring no stock-outs.
2021
We develop and trial ECA hypochlorous acid, a product that is very effective against COVID 19 and Norovirus and is a much safer alternative to other disinfectant products. We install generators on Cunard and P&O fleets.
What’s next for Tower?
Our mission to make the workplace a better place continues. The world is becoming more environmentally aware, and the safe, secure, and sustainable disposal of PPE and workwear is critical. The incorporation of wellbeing within health and safety is becoming increasingly important, while wearable technology and the internet-of-things will revolutionise how we monitor consumables and replenish products.
