Frank is justly proud of the clean lines of the building and the clear sight lines for the vehicles coming in and out, so he wanted the LPG tank to be installed well away from truck movements. By running about 30 metres of piping along the outside walls of the workshop, AvantiGas engineers were able to site the one-tonne tank discreetly and effectively.
“Rob has accommodated the tank and the piping for us nicely, the installation is good – otherwise it would have occupied too much of the operating area. It all went very smoothly, very professional. And there’s no need to phone in orders – it’s automatic, which we were impressed with. We don’t have to keep an eye on that.”
Keeping an eye on business, on the other hand, is something which Frank, 57, and brother Robert, 56, have done very well for more than 20 years. After establishing a successful waste company and selling up to a larger rival, Frank and Robert eventually decided to go independent again in 1996.
“It was just me, my brother Robert and a little Bedford Rascal van when we started in 1996, picking up what waste management work we could at the time,” said Frank. “But the company blossomed and grew, moving to new premises several times. We now employ 45 people.
“We’ve also got a brokership, Premier Site Services, supplying skips nationwide via a network of suppliers... That came about through customers asking us to replicate what we do in Manchester in other parts of the country. That arm now employs five people. It’s very quiet – no trucks, no drivers, no mess!”
Staff turnover is very low as the company likes to look after its staff – “our biggest asset, after our customers; the plant and the equipment and everything else is just incidental” – and the staff return the compliment.