In the pipeline - Pirtek UK

Company Gold, National Silver for Pirtek Stoke
Craig Harrison, proprietor
of Pirtek Stoke, has achieved
an unprecedented double.
Having already been named
Pirtek Franchisee of the Year,
Craig was named as the silver place
runner-up in the British Franchise
Association’s own Franchisee
of the Year award last week.
Craig’s story is not so much
rags to riches as coal miner
to company director. Having
worked as a miner since leaving
school, Craig joined Pirtek in 1993,
initially working as a Mobile Sales
and Service Technician (MSST)
at the Stoke Centre.
Within three years,
Craig’s hands-on experience
and enthusiasm earned him
a promotion to Senior MSST.
Two years later, he was promoted
again, this time to the role of
Centre Manager, a critical role
in any of Pirtek’s network of over
90 Centres across the UK and
Ireland. Having proved his
capabilities at the front-line
of the business, Craig seized
the opportunity to purchase the
Pirtek has opened a new
National Training Centre in central
Birmingham. The Centre which
will provide a variety of training
courses for Pirtek personnel from
across the UK and Ireland was
officially opened by the Chairman
of Pirtek Europe, Kelvin Roberts.
“Training is the cornerstone of
the success of the Pirtek business.
With almost 100 Hose Service
and Supply Centres and 400 mobile
service units across the UK and
Ireland we have a substantial
training requirement,” he said.
“I am delighted to be opening
Pirtek Stoke operation when
it became available in 2001.
Craig believes that his meteoric
rise has given him a unique insight
into the Pirtek business. “From
working as a man on the van to
becoming company director gives
me the knowledge of what can and
cannot be done across all aspects
of the Pirtek business,” he says.
It is an insight that has clearly
paid dividends. Since taking over
the Pirtek Stoke operation,
turnover has grown from £650,000
per annum to over £1.2 million.
Craig subsequently underlined his
confidence in the Pirtek business
model, acquiring additional
Centres in Warrington and Wigan
and setting both of them on an
equally ambitious growth path.
Craig’s achievements were
recognised earlier this year when
he was named as Pirtek Franchisee
of the Year for 2008, and again last
week when he came second in the
world-renowned British Franchise
Association’s Franchisee of the
Year later this month. “I was
up against other franchisees
Taking Training to a New Level
this new National Training Centre
which will take Pirtek’s training
Department to a new level.”
Roberts’ excitement at the
opening was echoed by Pirtek’s
National Training Manager,
Martyn Smart who will head up
the new facility. “The new Training
Centre has live, working plant and
machinery for trainees to work
on, providing valuable hands-on
experience,” Smart concludes.
“We have been well supported
by both our customers and our
suppliers to enable the environment
to be as realistic as possible”
Pirtek winners Craig and Nicky Harrison collect
their British Franchise Association silver award.
Left to right: Sir Bernard Ingham (bfa) Catherine Hayes
(HSBC) Craig and Nicky Harrison, Keiron Summerhayes
(Daily Express) Brian Smart (bfa)
from a diverse range of companies
and industry sectors so the
competition was stiff,”
Craig Harrison concludes.
“But 15 years ago, I was driving
a van and wielding a spanner for
a living and today I am the proud
owner of three very successful
Pirtek businesses. I know that with
a bit of hard work and commitment,
anything’s achievable.”
Pirtek Europe Chairman, Kelvin Roberts, opens the
National Training Centre.