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The third generation of family-run lveco dealership TC Harrison is
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celebrating 75 years in the CV trade. James Harrison talks to Kevin Swallow about history, training and profit.
InTC Harrison's Peterborough office I meet James Harrison, grandson of Thomas Cuthbert Harrison who founded the company in 1931 when he was just 24.
"It's fitting that the first vehicles my grandfather sold were vans and pickups," says James.-He was made redundant from Autoways in Sheffield, so he set up his own parts and service operation, selling bits and pieces he could get his hands on."
In 1936 Cuthbert moved into selling commercial vehicles with a Ford franchise which continues 70 years later.After World War 2 he expanded the business adding sites at Rotherham (1955) and Derby (1961).
Dealerships
TC Harrison floated on the stock exchange in 1968 and expanded into construction with four JCB dealerships east of the Pennines, from Northumberland down to Lincolnshirc.Today this operation is run by James's cousin William.
In 1977 the business merged with George Reid's Peterborough Motors Group, which had car and truck franchises.
As a young lad James went to work with his father John on Saturday mornings, and admits to creating havoc in the workshops.
Soon realising that this was something he wanted to be a part of,James joined the firm in 1979 as a 17-year-old in fleet sales."To join was all I wanted to do," he recalls. "They built up a nice company; I wanted to help keep it going."
Direct supervision by his father or grandfather was avoided as he was sent to work under other managers within the company.
After half a century at the helm, Cuthbert died in 1981 and the business he had built so success fully passed to his sons, Edward and John,with Edward taking over from his father as chairman. By then James had two years' experience under his belt.
"My first proper job was as a mechanic," he says."I was looking at the original training schedule: 1f worked in all aspects of the company to get the fullest experience."
Experience
After eight months working at Crystals in Hull in 19&5 James returned to the leasing division, working in sales before moving to
Derby in 1988, then back into the group in 1991. He was based at Sheffield as group fleet sales manager. as his father John took over chairmanship from Edward.
Remarkably, even through its darkest periods the company has always stayed in the black,"from £27 in the 1930s right through to today", says James.
He won't be drawn on the current margins but the addition of a property division,run by his brother Jonathon.shows that the company eggs arc placed in plenty of baskets.
Following John's death in 1998 Edward stepped into the breach for six months before Mike Muscroft became the first nonHarrison to lead the company.
The three grandsons became joint managing directors. James heads up the motor division supported by three regional directors, one of whom is Clive Death,based at Peterborough.
-In I 999 we bought the Bakewell site,says James.-My father always wanted a house for head office rather than offices,so we bought a small hotel and renovated it."
The following year TC Harrison sold its Rover operation,complete with its Sheffield and Rotherham sites, to Dixons. Shepcote Lane, the truck site acquired in 1967,went to MAN as the firm moved to its new HQ.
Buoyant
There have been plenty of ups and downs over the past 75 years hut James describes the current market as buoyant. diverse, complicated and as rewarding as it's ever been.
Clive Death explains:"We have seen people bring forward purchases to secure Euro-3 and analogue tachograph though some customers are hanging back to evaluate the effect of Euro-5 and its possible advantages."
Iveco accounts for a third of the group. -Growth has been strong in recent times, and we've got ton level where it's a gradual expansion," he adds.
"We see opportunities with the Daily range,Stralis tractors and used vehicles.
Another potential growth area is the Cambridge operation: "It's developed extremely well and we will continue to introduce strategies to improve further on the services we promote to our market."
Which brings us back to the company's traditional core values and that.as is so often the case in successful businesses, means people.
"Training the staff and developing the staff is vital because they look after the customers. If you look at the senior management, they have been with us for a long time.• HARRISON HISTORY
Company goes from strength to strength
1931 TC Harrison opens its doors on 18 May 1936. Ford franchise 1958: Company floated 1977: Joins forces with Peterborough Motor Group
1981: Thomas Cuthbert Harrison dies. his son Edward becomes chairman
1985: Company privatised 1991: John Harrison takes over as chairman 1998: John Harrison dies; Mike Muscroft becomes first non-Harrison chairman 2000: Head office moves to Bakewell following sale of sites in Sheffield and Rotherham 2003: Edward Harrison dies 2006: Company celebrates 75 years