The Farmers Mart Feb/Mar 2014 - Issue 32 | Page 12

gary atkinson & sons FAMILY FENCING BUSINESS CONTINUES TO FLOURISH Setting up a new business is always fraught with problems but it helps a lot if you have the right support. Gary Atkinson, who heads up Kiplingcotes - based Gary Atkinson & Sons Fencing Contractors, is the first to acknowledge the invaluable help he received when he first set up the business back in 2003. “Without the tremendous encouragement and commitment from Oliver Haywood of Shiptonthorpe, the business might never have got off the ground,” said Gary. “I will never forget his support in the early days. Pleased to be associated with Gary & wish him continued success for the future Unit 11 Becklands Industrial Estate Tel: [phone] Market Weighton Fax: [phone] East Yorkshire Email: [email protected] YO43 3EF 12 Feb/Mar 2014 FarmersMart It was Oliver who had sufficient confidence in Gary to give him his first major contract – no less than eight miles of fencing. “It was my first big job and it certainly set me on the right road with the business.” Prior to setting up the business, Gary had worked for an agricultural contractor before moving to Market Weighton where he was farm foreman at the Houghton Hall Estate at Sancton. But it was always his ambition to have his own business. “When I first started fencing contracting, my brother Eddie came in with me and then later my eldest son, Anthony, worked with us. Anthony and Benjamin are now partners in the business and my other sons are also involved – along with my wife, Valerie, who handles the accounts. Gary paid tribute to his family, sons Anthony,Benjanin,Jamie and Timothy who all play vital roles in keeping the business healthy. He alsoacknowledged the important role of having good, dependable and experiencedsuppliers and service companies. “ABR Rescue in Hull resprayed our old Mercedes MB 1000 tractor and did a fantastic job on it - it looks amazing, just like new,” Gary said. “We had no intention of getting rid of it – she’s a good old bus and is still ideal for the job, we use a contractors vector powerdrive post knocker on the back to make it in to a real beast,” he smiled. To read more, visit www.farmers-mart.co.uk