Pearson puts Tees-Valley on the map – local company sweeps national awards

A triple celebration is on the cards for Middlesbrough-based removal company Pearson Home Moving this week with the news of two major award wins and the completion of the company’s management buy-out (MBO) by local couple, Frances and Stephen Reed.

Frances and Stephen, who now own 100 per cent of the Pearson company shares following the successful MBO, accompanied a small Pearson team to London for a star-studded Motor Trade Awards presentation ceremony. Announcing and presenting the awards to companies such as Pearson, Mercedes Benz and TNT were comedian Jack Dee and television presenter and professional rally driver Vicky Butler-Henderson.

Having spent over 20 years working for Pearson Home Moving, Stephen and Frances are delighted to have achieved both the prestigious awards success and the completion of the MBO of the highly regarded company for an undisclosed figure – all in the same month!

“Having spent more than forty years between us working with Pearson, Stephen and I are absolutely delighted to have reached the end of the management buy-out process and take full control of the reigns of the company,” explained Frances Reed. “This achievement has been made all the more exciting by the news that we beat tough competition to be awarded the Customer Care and Livery of the Year awards at the Motor Trade Awards this week.

“We are both so proud to be at the helm of such a successful company with an amazing team around us.” Working tirelessly to ensure the company continues to thrive, Frances and Stephen enlisted the help of local creative agency, Urban River Creative to undertake a rebranding programme for Pearson, as well as helping the company prepare outstanding award submissions for the Motor Trade Awards – a decision which has paid dividends. “Stephen and I have a number of plans for the future of the company – not least the completion of the rebranding process. Urban River Creative’s ideas and designs have proved to be a huge hit not only with the awards judges, but also with our local customers. The new brand provides eye-catching, modern and fresh livery for the company’s 70 vehicles and trailers,” continued Frances.

The only North East-based company to achieve a shortlisting place at the awards, Pearson’s team is exceptionally proud to have shared the ceremony’s stage with companies such as Mercedes Benz, Hotpoint Logistics and TNT. The result of Pearson’s success and expansion in recent years has meant that the company employs more than 75 people and offers office, industrial and domestic removal and storage services to customers throughout the North East and beyond.

“It’s been hard work for the past year but the end result is definitely worth all the extra work. The Pearson team is very close-knit and dedicated to delivering an excellent service to the company’s customers and our strategy for growth is firmly underlined by our strong belief in training and customer care. There has been a huge upturn in the energy of the Pearson team, which we attribute to the company’s positive attitude to training, personal development and the exciting future we have to look forward to. The awards win and completion of the MBO both reinforce the immense amount of effort that the whole team puts into the company every day,” added Frances.

A complex process, the completion of the MBO was made possible by a select group of local companies enlisted by Stephen and Frances Reed. Yorkshire Bank’s Tees Valley FSC (Financial Solutions Centre) organised the funding for the process, Stockton-based Archers Law provided legal advice and local company S.V. Bye acted as financial advisor to the Reeds.

Pearson The Art Of Home Moving - Roadtransport article
MotorTransoprt Awards 2007 - Winners website