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When did you take up your position with the company and what does your role involve?
Absolutely is my family business which was founded by my great grandfather George Thompson in 1865, as a transport business working closely with the Railway Companies .I joined the business in the late 70s after qualifying as a Chartered Accountant and started the courier side of the business in 1984. Within a few years the courier side became the dominant part of the business and we started our strategy of growth through acquisition in 1994. Since then we have acquired about 25 other courier companies. As Managing Director I set the strategy and goals of the organisation and make sure we have the right people in place to deliver that strategy. I’m quite involved with the acquisition aspect of the business.
Who else is in the senior management team besides you?
We have four members of our Board – myself, Tarquin Tan (Operations Director) and two non-executive Directors. We have a Manager of each of our three satellite branches and various departmental managers who make up the next management tier. You can find full details of our team on our website.
How big is your organisation today?
Absolutely currently employs about 130 people across the organisation along with approximately 300 self-employed riders and drivers. We currently have four locations in London with about 100 cars, 110 vans, 50 motorcycles and 40 bicycles (including 5 cargo bikes). Having rebranded as Absolutely from what was previously 24 different trading names, we are now the second largest courier company in London.
What’s your USP that sets you apart from other companies?
Although we are one of the largest same day courier companies in the UK, we have stayed true to our roots and people are still the most important element of our business. Clients regularly talk about our friendly staff, our integrity and the quality of our courier services. It is really our dedication to our customers and clients which sets us apart. Our name ‘Absolutely’ represents our commitment to delivering absolutely anything and getting the job done. Over the years this has included almost everything imaginable from legal documents to human hearts but all jobs are treated with care and professionalism. The images of objects on our branding reflects the varied items which we have delivered – one a particularly memorable instance of a lobster which made a bid for freedom under the back seat!
Can you tell us in more detail about what technology you use?
The development of technology is increasingly significant for the courier industry. In this aspect we are very fortunate to have a partnership with DA Systems Ltd who are the principal providers of software for the courier industry. This means we often get the opportunity to beta test the latest innovative products before they even hit the main market.
