Motherwell business celebrates silver franchise partnership

Leading transport & logistics recruitment franchise, Driver Hire, is celebrating a 25 year partnership with Motherwell-based business services provider, Wilson Gibb Management Services Ltd (WGMS).

WGMS was formed in 1992 by business partners Darrin Gibb and Hugh Wilson. It purchased its first Driver Hire office (in Motherwell) that same year. The venture proved to be highly successful. When Hugh Wilson retired in 2004, Darrin took up the reins. Later in the building of the business, Fiona Thompson — initially an employee who joined the company straight from school in its earliest days — became joint franchisee and a WGMS shareholder. WGMS now has five offices across Scotland plus one in Newcastle.

WGMS is one of Scotland’s top small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Combined turnover has grown to well in excess of £7.5m (financial year ended March 2018). It employs 40 people and regularly finds work for around 5,000 temporary drivers and other transport & logistics staff.

Chris Chidley, Driver Hire’s Chief Executive, said: “The longevity of our partnership with Wilson Gibb does, I think, speak volumes about the quality of a Driver Hire franchise in terms of potential growth, profitability and business support. That is of course, not to take anything away from Darrin, Fiona and the WGMS team who, through their hard work, management skills and entrepreneurial zeal have created an outstandingly successful business.”

Darrin Gibb added: “Our partnership with Driver Hire continues to work well for both of us. Looking back I don’t think that any of us imagined that it would last for a quarter of a century. Our reputation for round the clock customer service combined with the strength of the Driver Hire brand enables us to both win and retain customers at local and national level.”

Driver Hire has a nationwide network of over 100 offices, 13 of which are in Scotland. It provides temporary and permanent staff transport & logistics staff to both the public and private sector. If a business is short of staff – perhaps because of illness, holidays or seasonal demand – Driver Hire will supply them with a suitable replacement.