by woos hauliers back to new venture
Page 8
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
by Miles Brignall
11 Hay, the man behind ;offish haulier John Adams 86 ans, which called in the iceivers owing subcontractors ) to 120,000 each, is trying to mpt hauliers back with an 8% yalty bonus if they work for his ?.w venture, Eye plc.
By Hays' own admission, mut 100 hauliers were left out pocket when the Bank of liotland pulled the plug on nlithgow-based Adams at the .1ginning of May. Many credlre were furious that the lams boss launched another )mpany, Eye, only weeks gore Ernst 86 Young were flied in to wind up Adams.
Even as the receivers were putting together a list of creditors Hays was issuing a press release appealing for subcontractors, which included the following: "This is an industry bedevilled by slow payment and a lack of respect and trust. We want to put an end to that by concentrating on quality and loyalty—a quality service to customers and loyalty with the hauliers, a loyalty which will be built on a 14-day payment guarantee and incremental loyalty bonuses."
Speaking this week for the first time since Adams went bust (he was unavailable when the receivers were called in)
Hay says he is as upset as anyone at Adams' demise: 4' realise that it doesn't look good, and the timing was unfortunate. We set up Eye to separate out the customer service operation from the haulage division. We had an agreement with the bank to extend Adams' overdraft— the bank subsequently changed its mind and there was not a lot we could do. It all happened very quickly."
Despite admitting that he does not expect Eye to be paid by its customers for three months, Hay is premising hauliers that they will be paid in 14 days. Selected former Adams subcontractors are also being offered an 8% loyalty bonus.
One subbie who was owed 11,000 when Adams went bust is now working for Eye. But he warns: "If the cheques don't keep coming after 14 days I'll be off the job very quickly"