About SRS

Meet the SRS Team (Newer, better pictures coming soon)

Alex Docherty, Managing and Marketing Director  - Alex first worked for SRS in 1996, during the holidays from his first degree. In 1998 Alex graduated from Edge Hill with an English degree and began working at SRS full time. As the company grew, a position in marketing became availiable. Alex completed a business studies course and a Marketing Degree at Bolton University. Alex became a Director of SRS Ltd in 2005 and is now responsible for the company's Marketing and general management.



Kath Goodman-Parrott, Sales Administration Director - Kath has been with SRS from the very beginning, over 26 years ago, and has helped the company through all of its growth and development. Kath is in overall control of the company's internal sales systems - her responsibilities include placing sales orders on the system and giving customers sales advice over the phone. Kath also liases with suppliers to ensure that the materials required for manufacturing arrive on time, and organises the delivery of the completed orders. Kath became a Director of SRS Ltd in 2005.

Kath Pemrick, Sales - Kath Pemrick joined SRS in 2002 after having worked at a aircraft engineering firm in Bolton. Kath previously worked as a payroll administrator and has joined SRS as a sales administrator. Kath No. 2, as she is known to reduce confusion, is also responsible for organising orders and giving sales advice to SRS customers - so please remember which one you spoke to!




Richard Sherwood MIOA, Technical Sales Manager - Richard joined SRS in Sept 2005 from Salford University, where he achieved his degree in Audio Technology. Richard has had experience of Building Acoustics through the modules selected on his course and has a wide knowledge of SRS Ltd's products and their application. Richard became a full member of the Institute of Acoustics in 2008.  Both Richard and Toby are able to give advice on any acoustic problems. Richard enjoys Hardcore Metal, processed cheese slices and Scarborough.




Toby Makin MIOA, Technical Advisor - Toby also joined the SRS Technical Dept in Sept 2005. Toby achieved his degree in Audio Technology from Salford University. Whilst studying he also gained valuable technical experience working for BDP Acoustic Consultants in Manchester. Toby became a full member of the Institute of Acoustics in 2008. Toby enjoys walking in the Lake District, photography and the consumption of sweet, pastry based confection procured from the local supermarket. It would not be fair to end this section without also mentioning his curious inability to kick a football.



Simon Fox, Production Manager - Out of working hours Simon is active not so much as a Fell Runner but rather as a Mountain Biker. From 8:30 till 5:00 however, Simon's pleasure is to make sure that everything is delivered on time and to our customers' satisfaction.

A Brief History of SRS

Back in 1981, SRS was formed as Hartnell and Rose Ltd. In those days, we manufactured acoustic insulation for the suspended-ceiling industry, and marketed and distributed a metal suspended-ceiling system known as Flairline, manufactured by a metal section rollers in the Midlands. The two directors, Eddie Williams and Jack Donnelly, were joined in 1991 by a third director, Julian Donnelly.

The acoustic insulation was made of mineral wool encased or faced with various materials. These included PVC and polythene film, aluminium and non-woven tissue. They were made in pad or roll form, and were laid over the back of perforated-metal suspended ceilings.

Acoustic absorption

This gave acoustic absorption to the ceiling, and therefore to the area where it was installed – usually commercial buildings, offices, sports halls, airports, etc. We sold them mainly to suspended-ceiling contractors, who then installed them with the ceiling.

We marketed the Flairline metal ceiling system through architects and ceiling contractors. Our first contract was for a processing plant for British Nuclear Fuels at Workington. Sales over the next two years were so successful that we decided to market the system ourselves.

This left us with just the insulation business. This had grown over the two years, and we'd moved from the original premises in Farnworth to larger ones in the ground floor of a mill in George Street, Farnworth.

Price competition

Over the next four years, price competition became more intense, owing to a number of factors. Before we came on the scene, the main manufacturer of this type of insulation had the market mainly to themselves. They were part of a large insulation company and were determined to keep their market share.

Other companies had also started to produce the same product in what, overall, was only a small market. All of these companies manufactured insulation for other markets; the ceiling side was just a part of this.

We were solely dependant on the ceiling industry, and therefore felt the squeeze more severely. Action had to be taken. In the late 80s, we decided to change our base material from mineral fibre to foam. It was cleaner and didn't need encasing or facing, but it was untried within the ceiling industry.

We also decided to develop our own specialist products based on foam. These would be designed for a specific purpose, and provide a tested acoustic performance. They would be specifiable to meet specific demands, and would replace the generic products currently produced.

Improving acoustic performance

In 1990, we moved from Farnworth to a more modern unit in Lever Street, Bolton. Throughout the 90s, we developed products for improving the acoustic performance of internal building structures, including floors, ceilings and walls. As the business grew, we found larger premises, bought in 1999 in Lever Street. At the same time, we decided to change our name to SRS, which was more descriptive of the nature of the business.

Today, Sound Reduction Systems Ltd is well-known in the building industry for our innovative building-acoustics products.