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NEWS - Never Short Of A Shilling
"Do you know I've never really stood here and studied this," he says. His comment soon bursts into childlike delight. "That's Castleford Basin. That's where I first started working! I have never noticed that before," he exclaims. Worthington, chairman of Trafford Park, Manchester based A K Worthington hasn't, it seems, stopped for breath since he was a child. It's been more perspiration than contemplation. "At school I had four jobs," he says. "I've never been short of a shilling." None of these jobs would surely bare comparison with A K Worthington, which he set up in 1981 at the age of 21. It posted a turnover of £12M last year. The firm, which is intensely proud of its independence, specialises in both haulage and warehousing. It owns Trafford Park's World Freight Centre, with a total capacity of 23,000-sq. m and is the northern hub of the Fortec Pallet Distribution network offering 24-hour and 48-hour pallet delivery services.
The secret behind the success, Worthington says, is to "never live beyond your means-know your costs. Be realistic, every year won't be a good year." Worthington's younger sister Rebecca, who Tony says "as director runs the everyday business of A K Worthington with new recruit as managing director, Julian Richards", laughs at the comment. "In the early days Tony's friends were asking him when he was going to get a good car with the success he was having," she says. "But he kept with the same old one for years." "That was a good car," interjects Worthington. "It was a Sierra Estate," Rebecca contends. "He only bought a better one four years ago - a BMW 525." The pair's relationship is similar to most brothers and sisters. Lots of jibes but a close bond off affection and respect. Rebecca joined the firm shortly after its creation. "I just came into the office, which at the time was a shack in central Manchester, and asked where's my chair?"
"She only got a job because I promised our mum I'd look after her," deadpans Worthington. "I remember that office. It's now one of the trendiest parts of Manchester. Your certainly can't take a truck down there nowadays." It was family which inspired Worthington to move into transport. "Dad ran a small transport firm out of an old police station near Manchester docks," he explains. "My first transport job was distributing vegetables in the boot of an old car to homes. The problem I found there was a) to get housewives at home and b) getting them to pay me on time!". Then came A K Worthington and freight forwarding work. It has been a steady growth since the early days, with warehousing services beginning in 1987. "We don't do a lot of advertising. Most of our new work comes from referrals," he says. "Importantly we developed both of the services at the same pace. There was no imbalance." Two developments, however, have powered both sides further forward. The first came in late 1996 with the purchase of Manchester-based firm James Aidley. "We only wanted to buy his depot. But he died suddenly on the golf course and the family wanted to get rid of the whole business, including the fleet which totalled 40 artics, " Worthington says. It meant the doubling of the firm's fleet to approximately 90 vehicles and meant it could offer full UK distribution. The second came in 1997 when the World Freight Centre was opened after Worthington purchased it for £3M. The centre offers 14 individual interlinked high bay areas and covers 10 acres. A canopy area means all goods transfers are handled under complete cover. "All freight transfers are recorded, all goods batches traced. We cover all logistical needs from initial storage to final customer delivery, "Worthington says. "Within minutes of here is a road, rail and air network. It's an ideal location."
The centre is such a large operation that it took a week to organise its closure for two days last new year. "It's going 24-hours a day," he adds. Worthington says the recent appointment of Julian Richards was necessary because "we now have several businesses, we need a management team". Worthington remains the boss. "It's not a dictatorship here. It's a forum. Although I'm in charge of the forum!". We leave the office and Worthington points at a roundabout located just outside the Centre. "I'm trying to get it called 'Worthington's Roundabout'." This is from a man who visibly shuddered talking earlier about the reality of seeing his name printed on his vehicles. "If I could change one thing. I'd change that. I don't want fame." It's an interesting dichotomy from a man mostly shining with boisterous confidence. For all his swagger there is a keen sentimentality and sensitivity at work here. It's a beguiling mix. Worthington brings out an old jotter to show MT. It notes the first accounts from the first day of A K Worthington. He flicks through the withering pages. "Oh, I remember him. That was Rolf Harris. How much did I pay on that first day?" It's like someone looking through an old family album from a holiday far in the past. The eyes dance, the smile is broad. "Transport is in my blood. I still get a thrill from it," he says. "I'm a dieselholic!" Worthington says the future could see the firm start distribution to the Continent. "Watch this space," he says. "Although we travel abroad already. We go to Liverpool, Glasgow…" Another future development for the industry, Worthington says, is the need for "family businesses to get haulage partners". "I wouldn't start a family firm now. You get no return on your investments. We used to be a nation of shopkeepers but it is too hard for the man on the street now," he says. A K has a three-way deal with Scottish firms Caledonian Logistics (ex-employees of Munro Transport) and Bullet Express. Caledonian, for example, uses A K to deliver goods throughout England. "Be careful though," Worthington says. "You are only as strong as your partners." Maybe he's more contemplative than MT credited for. Worthington OriginalWorthington's early work included a stint as a DJ, in Manchester. His partner was Pete of Piccadilly and now Virgin Radio's "Pete and Jeff" show. At MT's meeting he is looking forward to going down to Chris Evans' TFI Friday show. "I used to call up Pete on Piccadilly," he recalls. "The lads used to launch into their usual banter - don't mention A K Worthington. No, don't mention they offer a range of pallet services or that their phone number is 0161 etc!"... Click here for Tony Worthington on ...Glory DaysWorthington was present at Barcelona's Nou Camp for the dramatic ending to last season's European Cup final between United and Bayern Munich. "Magic," he remembers. A picture of Worthington with the two other trophies United won last season, the League Championship and the FA cup, adorns the wall of his office. His personal hero is now retired French star Eric Cantona.
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