An interview with Jim Morris of Whittle Group, by Steve Jordan

When Whittle Movers Ltd. went bust earlier this year 110 people lost their jobs, Jim Morris lost his business, Whittle’s suppliers lost money and the industry lost a well known name.  But Whittles is now trading again and Steve Jordan interviewed Jim to find out about the company he has resurrected.

It was on the 8 March 2011 that Whittle Movers Ltd. of Preston called in the administrators. The company was successful, had been in business since 1988 and in 2010, the last year for which it filed figures, had a turnover of £8.2 million, a pre-tax profit of nearly £220,000 and a net worth of approaching £1.3 million.  Yet the remainder of 2010 went badly for Whittles especially with the MoD contract, on which the company relied heavily, not working out as expected.  It was a downturn that the company could not survive.

The job losses were both in Whittles itself and with sub-contractors. “We made sure we paid all the local guys,” said Jim, “but we know some of the suppliers lost out. We had funds at the bank but the bank wouldn’t let us pay people.  It’s a terrible experience. They only let you pay the people on their ‘critical payment’ list. They question every payment you want to make.” 

Jim doesn’t think many trade suppliers lost out although he had taken in a large delivery of materials just before the collapse.  “I feel very sorry for them,” said Jim.  “But people who know me know I wouldn’t have done it if I’d had a choice.”

But although Whittle Movers Ltd. had gone, the Whittle Group was still in operation and Jim had personal ownership of most of the property.  He was able to resurrect the moving side very soon after the collapse of the old company.  In fact Jim was one of the main bidders at the vehicle auction the company had in April and bought back many of the vehicles for the new company.

Today the company has had to go back to grass roots.  No more MoD work just private domestic, European and commercial work. Of course the company still has a good name in the Preston area so the phone keeps ringing. It now employs around 20 people and has an impressive fleet of vehicles in the yard, an indication that Jim is planning on bringing the company back to its former success just as soon as he can. It’s going to be a long road and not one that Jim had planned for, but he’s made a start.  And how’s the company doing in its efforts to drag itself back into the black in the middle of a recession?  “We are doing all right,” said Jim.  “We are doing all right.”