Aman Chahal, co-founder of TaperedPlus, has been announced as runner-up in the Growth Story category of Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) Awards.
It marks a remarkable entrepreneurial journey that has seen the Stockton-headquartered company become a national leader in the design and supply of flat roofing and insulation systems.
Aman’s drive to succeed is rooted in his family’s story. His mother, a first-generation immigrant, and his father, who arrived in Britain from India as a toddler, were from humble beginnings.
Despite the challenges, they worked tirelessly and through their sacrifices, they saved enough to send both Aman and his sister to university, providing them with the opportunities they never had.
Aman went on to earn a degree in Information Management from Leeds University, followed by an MSc in International Management at Teesside University and Postgraduate Diploma in E-Commerce from the University of Sunderland.
After graduating, he would go on to join a major structural insulation specialist, quickly rising to become National Flat Roofing Business Development Manager. It was there he met Robert Vass, then Flat Roofing Product Manager, and they spotted a gap in the market.
With financial backing from their families, and a combined personal investment of £60,000, they launched TaperedPlus in 2014 with the goal of reaching £500,000 in turnover in their first year.
The early months were tough. “By the six-month mark, we’d brought in just £17,000,” Aman recalled. “Rob and I lived on just £10,000 a year each because we reinvested everything back into the business.” But their gamble paid off and by the end of the first year, turnover had reached £817,000.
Since then, TaperedPlus – which also has a technical design studio in Wolverhampton – has grown exponentially, nearly doubling turnover year on year. In 2024, the company doubled the size of its sales team with the appointment of four experienced Business Development Managers across the UK. This expansion followed a £5.5 million investment from BGF, announced last June, to support the firm’s ambitious growth plans and continued focus on customer service.
Aman, who is CEO of TaperedPlus, added: “Being shortlisted alongside such incredible businesses is an honour in itself, but to be named runner-up for the Growth Story Award is beyond anything I could have imagined.
“I dedicate this achievement to my parents. Their example of determination, hard work, and perseverance gave me the blueprint for success. I carry that with me every day, and it continues to motivate me.”
Aman previously completed the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses UK program, which supports entrepreneurs in creating jobs and driving economic growth. It provides management and business training tailored for small business owners. Each participant develops a bespoke Business Growth Plan to guide strategic direction, and to date, nearly 2,400 UK businesses have taken part.