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They're flying high
Page 24
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Chris Tindall talks to Eddie Stobart MD William Stobart and group chairman Andrew Tinkler about their expansion plans.
CM EXCLUSIVE The Four Seasons Hotel near Park Lane in London is described on its website as an oasis of calm in the bustle of the city. But it's fair to say that the same cannot be said of William Stobart, managing director of Eddie Stobart,who is acutely uncomfortable in the presence of the photographer'sspotlight. More at ea.se is Andrew "'Inkier, Stobart's group chairman and managing director of WA Developments, the investment and construction firm that bought the haulage company in February 2004. Tinkler, by contrast, is relaxed and talkative: at one point he even jokingly sticks two fingers behind Stobart's head as the photographer snaps away.
They both arrived in London by helicopter, something Stobart confesses towards the end of the interview when he begins to relax. He says there is also a jet they can use. should the need arise. It's not difficult to imagine that with transport options like these available to the businessmen their plans for expansion are leagues apart from those of the majority of haulage firms eking out a living.All of which must put pressure on the high-profile company to maintain the highest ot standards. After all, the media loves nothirq more than to knock off pedestals those that have risen to the top of their game, doesn't it?
"I don't think it creates any pressure on tilt standard of driving," says Tinkler. "We see it as strength." Neither does he perceive any down. side to the continuing popularity and focw within the public eye: "1 see it as a positive."
Latest opportunity
The latest opportunity the company ha grabbed with both hands is the acquisition o. Carlisle airport. This seemingly audaciow move will provide Eddie Stobart with an inter national transport hub and doubtless steal ai important march on its rivals.
"You've always got lobe looking at differen opportunities in business or you tend to be Id behind," Tinkler expl a ins. The c eat appears to have arisen after the company's plans to relocate its head office to a site in Penrith were scuppered by planning rows. The opportunity to buy the airport arose, and with its scale and potential it was too much for the Stobart bosses to resist.
"We are trying to get the airport up and running as well as the freight opportunities,"Tinkler says. The first job will he to decide how and if to build a new runway and a distribution depot on the site. This will involve yet more talks with planners as the airport is situated adjacent to an archaeological site. Freight transport domination is never straightforward.
But as Stobart is keen to point out: "We just need to let them know we do employ 500 people [in Cumbria alone] and it's impor.ant to the local population. But we understand people have to eet certain criteria." Freight transport is not only on their minds. With control of an airport the ability to transport passengers to different countries becomes a possibility. It's something they are not shy of discussing.
"First of all.put investment in and build up the freight side of things." says Tinkler. "We aren't looking to compete with Newcastle. [But] we might try to deliver a passenger service ourselves. We asked to council and the archeologists to try to push this forward within two years.We will try and hold them to it."
Dreams of'Stobart Air' aside, for now the company is involved in another modal shift for its Tesco contract. Government grants, including cash from north of the border. is being invested in hauling freight by rail between Glasgow and Dayentry. Both men say that whereas previous investigations into the value of rail freight have proved unconvincing, this dedicated service should be a success. "No-one wants to use rail if trains have to keep stopping, because you also have 20 loads stop," explains Stobart. "It's got to be cost effective, so we have designed a train that can he used on any of the lines in England."
Cost effective
I m port a ntly,to make it all cost effective,full loads will he hauled back as well as forth each day. I ask them why they have admirably pursued this rail freight while many are still complaining you cannot deliver as good a service as road.
"But why not, give us a reason!" demands Tinkler. "It's all in the planning:. Stobart continues: "The great thing is WA Developments [Stobart's parent company] is a railway maintenance cornpany.We understand all those things.It's just planning it all the way through."
A subject that was expected to make Stobart nervous but actually sparks an interesting conversation, is the issue of Traffic Commissioner Torn Macartney calling the company to public inquiry following an investigation by Vosa into hours problems.The interview occurred prior to Macartney issuing a formal warning to the company, though their lawyer. Stephen Kirkbright, was livid the PI was brought in the first place.
He had claimed it was based on a misinterpretation of the law surrounding weekly rest provision for drivers not subject to EU or domestic drivers' hours regulations (CM 6 July). Tinkler says he isn't as frustrated as Kirkbright is and even seems un perturbed at appearing at PI:"At the end of the day we have to stand up and be counted.We are prepared to go to PI like we did with Mr Simrns. It wasn't easy, but we did. If we have done something wrong we will hold our hands up:' They explain how WA Developments' appearance in the haulage game introduced much needed software and hardware into the fleet: "You can't have 10 people working off the back of fag packets,"Tinkler says, before Stobart adds how under his brother Eddie's leadership it was headed by just one man, whereas now a management team is taking the business forward.Tinkler concludes: "We believe we have a business model and plan to push the company forward in the right direction."
Presumably this model will be pushed forward by road. rail and air... •