Member Article

Middlesbrough transport startup on the road to success

When Middlesbrough man Andrew Goldswain decided to set up his own transport business nine months ago, Goldswains Transport, he knew he was in for a challenge.

Yet almost a year on, the Teesside firm has quickly built up a growing bank of customers, all by word of mouth and recommendation, and is busy transporting machinery and other loads across the region and as far afield as London.

In addition to transporting everything from a single fork-lift truck or piece of farm machinery to the complete contents of a factory moving to a new location, the business is also dealing with waste management, scrap metal, container collection and delivery, small scale demolition and site clearances.

Andrew’s initial £30,000 investment in a wagon equipped with lifting gear capable of dealing with loads of up to 10 tonnes along with a Hiab lorry crane and cheese-wedge ramps is paying off.

“I am very proud of what I’ve achieved in just a few months,” he said. “We have a six-figure turnover that is growing steadily, I’m building a five-star rating on Facebook and I could well be looking at getting a second wagon on the road very soon if demand continues like this.

“Becoming self-employed is definitely a challenge, very hard work and can be nerve-wracking at times but I love it. It has always been in my mind that this is what I wanted to do and I decided that turning 30 was the right time to take the plunge.”

Andrew, who left school at 16 with no qualifications, joined the family-run business of C L Prosser & Co Ltd and spent 15 years gaining experience in the sector and acquiring his HGV licence.

“The great thing is that the Bainbridge family who own CL Prosser have been so generous,” he said. “They were not only really supportive and wished me well with my own business but have used my services.

“I am Middlesbrough born and bred and this just shows what a great place Teesside is to live and build a business when so many people support each other. My family have been right behind me too, helping with everything from my accounts to the start-up costs of purchasing the wagon, my operator’s licence and insurance.

“Everything has gone so well that I’ve been able to pay my loan back very quickly. There is no doubt that there is a lot of demand around Tees Valley and the North East, as well as further afield, for a business like mine and I now have every confidence that Goldswains Transport will continue to grow.”

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