Minutes of first board meeting

As we approach the end of 2020, Watts of Lydney Group are not only looking back on this last year with all its challenges and its achievements but also reflecting on the last 100 years as they celebrate their centenary of incorporation at Companies House on the 22nd December.

The business was originally established in 1870, however Arthur and John Watts first incorporated the business in 1920 when JS Watts and Sons became Watts Garages Limited. Little did the brothers know how successful and diverse the company would become over the next century as it continued to evolve during even more rapid changes to the industrial world.

The incorporation is a milestone well worth celebrating as it is so rare for a family run business to thrive over this length of time across an entire century and all the changes that brings. The group stands today with a successful and multi award winning DAF dealership in South Wales; Watts Urethane, a polyurethane manufacturer in Lydney, Gloucestershire; Plysolene, a thermoplastic sheet extrusion company in West  Sussex and a successful property portfolio, Althorpe Properties.

An Albion vehicle purchased post war

One of the most significant opportunities came about during the Second World War when Arthur Watts undertook pioneering work on the early diesel engines that became an inevitable stop towards the re-treading of tyres to meet heavy national demand at this time. This led to the retailing of pneumatic tyres in subsequent years and more than 50 years of impressive growth making Watts Industrial Tyres a significant global player in the industry. This was also a time when a strong relationship with Albion was  formed when Arthur purchased a number of Albion vehicles and spare parts post war, becoming an Albion distributor for South Wales. 

Watts Urethane Street Furniture range

Over more recent decades there have been many opportunities for growth within other areas of the business too, taking Urethane Products from originally producing tyres, into the realms of creating bespoke and innovative solutions for polyurethane. This diverse material is now used across a wide range of industries from aviation and utilities through to military applications and even street furniture and parking bollards for major supermarkets across the UK.  

The latest £1.5m investment at Plysolene to produce ABS on site

Innovation has always been key to the Watts Group success and in this vein, Plysolene have recently invested £1.5m in the installation of a brand new Kuhne machine at their site in West Sussex to begin producing ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) in the UK making them the first to do so in England and Wales and so the innovation continues.

A part of the community   

Supporting Lydney District Hospital over the years

Pen Y Fan Wheelchair Pull

Over the years, the Watts Group has been keen to champion the local areas it operates in as well as supporting the local economy with its many charitable initiatives. It’s earned a reputation as a trusted and caring local employer boasting staff members that have been with the company for decades and prides itself on the longevity of its staff, promoting and training from within. 

Always keen to give back to the community, the group has been an avid supporter of many local charities such as the Friends of Lydney Hospital, the Royal British Legion, the local rugby and tennis clubs and the local church, to name but a few. In South Wales, Watts Truck and Van have also been keen to support local causes, only last month winning the Business in the Community Responsible Business Champion Cymru Award for their active participation in supporting the Ebbw Vale Wheelchair Rugby Club, the Kids Cancer Charity, The Wales Cheerleading Team, Cardiff  Blues Community Rugby, Penycraig Regeneration and Give & Gain Day. 

Truck and Van have also been keen to raise awareness, alongside one of their customers, in the importance of Mental Health particularly in the haulage industry and have even trained their Senior Managers in Mental Health First Aid with St John’s.  

Watts Truck & Van and Ferryman Mental Health Awareness campaign

Group Chairman, and fourth generation family member John Thurston said

”I feel so privileged to have been able to follow in the foot steps of my Grandfather, Arthur Watts, and his sons. Whilst in the last 100 years society has changed and technology advanced. For the Group, some things will not change, namely our commitment to each other, and the communities in which we are involved. As we look forward in a world where the unexpected can create challenges  – we are Fit for the Future. During 2021 I know we will be able to celebrate the past, by continuing to support our communities and others.   I am most grateful to all those that have made the past 100 years possible, and to the amazing team that are the current foundation of our future”.

Congratulations go once more to Watts Truck and Van who’ve just been recognised as a Responsible Business Champion Cymru 2020 by Business in the Community.

For over 20 years Business in the Community’s Responsible Business Awards have showcased transformational stories of businesses taking real action to build thriving communities. Each year, the Awards celebrate those businesses demonstrating strong, inclusive leadership, who continuously innovate to tackle pressing social issues and repair and rebuild our planet.

The Watts Truck and Van initiatives have supported and helped many organisations in their local area and benefactors have included Ebbw Vale Wheelchair Rugby Club, the Kids Cancer Charity, the Wales Cheerleading Team, Cardiff Blues Community Rugby, Penygraig Regeneration and Give & Gain Day.

Supporting Mental Health

Another key area that Watt’s Truck and Van have drawn attention to in their efforts and a topic that affects everyone, is men’s mental health, particularly in the haulage industry. The team undertook a joint venture with their customer, Ferryman Transport to help raise awareness of this incredibly important subject. Getting men talking about their mental health is a very relevant topic at the moment and looking after mental health is always a focus for the Watts teams.

‘Good mental health in the workplace for both men and women is an essential part of ensuring the overall health and safety of a workforce and it’s shocking that in the haulage industry as a whole there is an above average suicide rate which needed highlighting.’ said Simon Griffin, Director Watts Truck and Van.

Truck and Van have not only supported those in the community with this joint venture but have also turned their focus closer to home, looking after their own staff by ensuring all of the Watts’ Truck and Van senior managers have received formal Mental Health First Aid training from St John’s. 

‘Working alongside the communities we sit alongside and pulling focus onto key areas like these is incredibly important to the Watts Group as a whole and as a family business it’s vital that we support and nurture those around us and those within our teams in any way that we can.’ added Simon.

John Thurston, Chairman of the Watts of Lydney Group, is keen to add his congratulations to everyone involved. 

‘As it is part of our family business, heritage and culture, I thoroughly endorse and support Watts’ active participation in these activities as a responsible business in Wales. Watts has supported many voluntary and charitable activities within the community. Involving employees in these activities increases their sense of empowerment and wellbeing as well as being part of a long-established family company. A consequence of this being that individual managers and employees have come together into an integrated team which has led to the company’s nationally recognised successes, including being DAF UK Dealer of the Year in 2019.’

The various UK category winners will be showcased at Business in the Community’s AGM on December 3rd when Sky TV’s Anna Jones will host the event which includes an interview with former US Secretary of State, Hilary Rodham Clinton, discussing how businesses and communities can work to build back responsibly from Covid-19.

This well deserved award is the latest that Watts Truck and Van add to their collection this year. Follow @wattstvccouk on social media to keep up to date with latest news and developments.

In the last 12 months, Watts Truck and Van achieved their highest ever operating profit with the Truck Sales team contributing 20% of that total. 322 DAF trucks were registered in the year, compared to the 286 sold by Scania, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo combined. This total volume equalled an outstanding 38.2% market leading share in South Wales, which even surpassed DAF’s record of a 30.5% share nationally.

Recent high volume deals delivered include a total of 52 vehicles to the film and TV support company Facilities by ADF with a variety of challenging specifications. In addition, the team have achieved 112% of their Paccar Financial target, 144% on selling Repair & Maintenance contracts, and 100% of the DAF Connect telematics target, as well as selling 16 used trucks. 

Key highlights – Franchised Dealer of the Year 2020 – Winner

Watts Truck and Van have also achieved DAF Category AA for the fourth year running, which is the top level for a dealer based on achieving manufacturer targets set in 20 disciplines covering the whole business from quality of workmanship/MOT First Time Pass Rate in Service, to Parts Sales & Truck Sales volumes, recruitment of apprentices, Repair & Maintenance Contract Sales, Manufacturer Mystery Shop and Personnel Training Standards.

As a family business, Watts as a group is very much focused on the future in terms of investment in people and premises. Everyone has a personal training programme and clear career path in the business. At Watts Truck and Van up to 6 apprentices are taken on every year and where possible the company promotes from within to nurture talent. The new £2m site was opened in Swansea on March 1^st last year when DAF Trucks MD Robin Easton presented the team with the UK Dealer of the Year award for scoring the highest number of points in the national Dealer Target Programme, and the Cardiff premises has been purchased from the landlord, so that will be the next project for development. 

The DAF Sword of Excellence for maximum points in Aftersales disciplines is also in the trophy cabinet, and the Parts team is also a previous winner of the Paccar Parts Dealer of the Year.

Key highlights – Aftersales and Maintenance Provider of the Year 2020 – Commendation