Derek Wilson Carriers delivers the goods
Exciting new chapter in history of an iconic Oban business
Just over 30 years ago Derek Wilson was one man with a van who built up his business to become a by-word for delivery and service to the islands. Now the next chapter is being written by Allan Kill.
Today’s story would read like science fiction to Derek when he started out. Back then the internet was a fledgling enterprise using dial-up modems; Amazon began as a bookseller in the US during the summer of 1994. Mobile phones were very expensive, analogue, and the size of a brick.
Today’s van driver has a smart phone, Bluetooth headset, sat-nav and a world of logistics at their fingertips.
EVOLUTION, NOT REVOLUTION
‘Evolution, not revolution is how I describe the change,’ said Allan Kill, who bought the business from Derek when he finally retired. Derek stayed on as an advisor during the initial months to impart his unique insight. The first thing Allan did was decide that the name stayed; it represents the ethos of the company.
‘It is now my job to build on this heritage and take the company forward,’ said Allan.
Derek Wilson Carriers is helping to defeat one of the biggest headaches facing West Highlands and islands residents and commerce alike, the problem of delivery surcharges.
‘You either hear ‘we don’t deliver to the Highlands and islands’ or there is a surcharge,’ he said.
‘We have a depot in Glasgow serving the Greater Glasgow area and customers can have their orders delivered there or sent on from there. This depot significantly reduces costs for consumers and businesses.’
TRADITIONAL CORE BUSINESS
Derek Wilson’s traditional core business is the islands, predominantly serving Mull, Coll, Colonsay, Tiree and Islay.
Allan Kill has come to the business with a career in civil engineering and a thorough knowledge of logistics. After attending Achaleven Primary and Oban High Schools, he went on to study at Glasgow Caledonian University.
‘I left college during a recession and you went where the work was; I began my career on a project in Hong Kong,’ he said.
Allan specialised on mega projects and railways across the Middle East, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Thailand and then back to the UK to be based in London.
EXCELLENT, SOUND BUSINESS
He and his wife decided on a change of lifestyle and moved the family back to Argyll from London and looked to start, or invest in, an existing enterprise. Derek Wilson Carriers fitted the bill; Allan could see an excellent, sound business he could grow using his experience and logistics skills and Derek saw in Allan someone who would build on his work and take the company forward.
As well as the Glasgow depot, Derek Wilson Carriers now serve Perth, Stirling and Edinburgh, as well as Lochgilphead and Inveraray.
There is hardly a queue on the CalMac pier in Oban that does not include a Derek Wilson van and serving the islands will always be at the heart of the company, but now you can spot Derek Wilson vans as far south as Carlisle and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, and north beyond Inverness.
Nothing is too big, or too small or too complicated; they even helped deliver a seal from Tiree to a sanctuary near Edinburgh for a rescue charity.
The company is now linked into the National Pallet Network so Derek Wilson can send your goods far and wide across the UK.
Derek Wilson Carriers also serves a number of blue-chip companies, the NHS medical service and wind farms as far away as Ayrshire from its base on Crannog Lane, Oban, with its fleet of vans of all sizes and 11 members of staff.