Couple’s life-change decision pays off

Oct 24 2009 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal

THE endeavours of a husband and wife team who gave up successful careers to save the future of their family’s business have paid off as the firm prepares to double in size.

After 12 years of running his Newcastle-based hydraulic platform hire firm Warren Access, Derek Warren began preparing for retired life and was looking to sell or fold the company.

However, his son Graeme – who had fashioned a successful career in IT –- alongside his wife Michelle, could see a future for the firm and decided to intervene.

The pair sold their house in Glasgow, packed their bags and headed back to the North East. That was four years ago and the leap of faith has certainly been rewarded as the company gears up for large-scale expansion.

Since the pair took over the day-to-day running of the business, they have doubled their fleet of high access platforms to 26, their largest being the 27m Multitel – one of only three in the UK.

And now the company is on the look out for a new North East headquarters which would eventually double the size of its current site on the Brunswick Industrial Estate.

The business has built up its client base to over 300, which is largely made up of local authorities, builders, CCTV and electrical companies and tree surgeons.

Michelle Warren said the last four years, which included a year-long stint of balancing a part-time job with the running of the business, have certainly been tough.

She said: “We have worked damn hard in the last two years to achieve what we have achieved and have invested a lot in machinery. A lot of people have been badly affected by the downturn in the construction industry but we have not.

“In years to come we are hoping to be able to move premises because we are outgrowing where we are now. Two years ago we never imagined we would be where we are now. We don’t need much office space but we need a lot of yard space which is quite hard to find.”

Alongside the building and maintenance sectors, Warren Access also has a history of being involved in the cultural and sports industry.

As well as playing a role in providing elevated platforms for camera crews during the Great North Run, it has also works on the upkeep of Alnwick Castle and other historical buildings.