66
Twenty years under the microscope
Precision Technology Supplies Limited
East Grinstead, England
Today PTS commands worldwide components. “This was a piece of business Andy Knight joined 16 years ago. “We both
recognition as a specialist supplier of worth a few million a year,” says Steve, “at a knew Andy well,” says Steve. “He knew the
stainless steel micro screws and American more than comfortable profit margin. We situation was still not 100% guaranteed. On
thread fasteners. The Sussex-based were about to get final approval for the last of his first day he asked us what we needed him
company started in February 1988, full of the components when the company in to do. We said, you know what to do so get
confidence and ambition. It didn’t entirely question was taken over. Almost overnight the on with it – and he’s got on with it ever
prove to be a bed of roses. We persuaded whole of the disc drive industry switched to since.”
managing director and founder Steve Singapore. As a result the UK company shut its
Edwards, along with co-directors Jason doors. We had to start all over again from “Those first few years were really, really
Collyer and Andy Knight, to reflect on scratch.” painful. On reflection,” Steve’s tone becomes
twenty eventful years. uncharacteristically serious, “I would probably
By then Jason Collyer had joined his former have been more sensible to walk away from
Steve Edwards remembers PTS’ first day colleague, which had always been part of the it all.” The prospect of turning his back on
vividly. “I left my previous job, walked into a plan. Steve explains, “Jason joined the liabilities, though, was and is anathema to
small sub-let office and managed to pick up company knowing there was little to be had Steve Edwards. “We bit the bullet and stuck it
six grand’s worth of business before the close financially at that time but shared the belief out.”
of that day – I thought easy!” we could make the business develop – and he
could keep me sane during the process! His Slowly but increasingly steadily PTS did build
In hindsight 1988 was probably one of the contribution since has been absolutely up its customer bases and its reputation. Andy
worst years to start a business in the UK. awesome.” Knight was responsible for introducing its first
“Straight after we started we went into computer system and for steering PTS through
recession big time,” recalls Steve. “Interest “We started picking up bits of business; began quality management accreditation in 1996.
rates went berserk. It all became very difficult dealing with quite a major company and The following year, having worked from their
very quickly.” moved forward.” Some customers were local, third but still small premises, the company
others further afield. “We didn’t mind that,” moved into its current warehouse and offices
The ‘grand plan’ was to work in cooperation says Jason. “It meant they couldn’t just pop in on the outskirts of East Grinstead.
with a UK-based hard disc manufacturer, to and see the reality of the business that was
gain quality approval and source four main supplying them.” “We were batch coding everything and we
were importing more and more,”
explains Jason. “We experienced a very
good period of growth that enabled us
to look at this unit. It had been empty
for a few years, stripped out by the
scavengers, and in quite a state. We did
a deal with the landlord and spent an
awful lot of money replumbing and
wiring, replacing cladding, installing
partitions for offices and putting in the
racking.”
“The strange thing,” interposes Steve,
“was that we moved from premises a
fifth the size and when it was all done
it looked as if we’d filled the new
place. We’ve been levering in more
product ever since.”
Systems were upgraded and the team,
L-R Andy Knight, Steve Edwards & Jason Collyer
which now totals ten, increased. Steve
Edwards’ son, another Andy, had
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