Hull firm formed from £1 buyout celebrates 25 years

HARRISON SOLWAY LOGISTICS' FUTURE IS 'LOOKING GREAT'

- By DEBORAH HALL

A HULL logistics provider formed from a £1 management buyout, whose biggest customer resigned on its first day in business, has celebrated its 25th anniversary in a remarkable success story. Harrison Solway Logistics, which is based on the Kingston International Business Park, opened its doors in July 2000 with just ten vehicles, six trailers, 17 staff and storage for 2,000 pallets.

Things started in less-than-promising fashion, when Lee Solway and business partner the late Paul Harrison took over one of Hull's largest haulage and distribution companies which was posting annual losses of close to £500,000. The duo and Lee's wife Kerry - a self-employed accountant at the time - presented a business plan to the bank, which promptly went out of the window on their first day of operation when their biggest customer handed in their notice after initially promising their support for the new venture.

Despite a setback which may have discouraged many, the firm turned a profit of £676 in its first year - and the rest is history.

Harrison Solway now boasts a fleet of 40 vehicles and 50 trailers, with an 80-strong team and storage for 12,000 pallets in its customs-bonded BRCGS (British Retail Consortium Global Standards) facility.

It became a founder member of the Wolverhampton-based logistics network Pallet-Track in January 2004 and now generates up to 45 per cent of its turnover from pallet shipments, alongside its work as a specialist 3PL (third party logistics) in the food, grocery, retail and construction sectors.