KEITH Gallacher set up Complete Weed Control 15 years ago. During the pandemic the team have been working at weekends and two new staff members were hired to tackle the backlog of work due to restrictions in working practices.
Name: Keith Gallacher
Position: Director
WHAT’S THE BUSINESS CALLED?
Complete Weed Control
WHERE IS IT BASED?
Carluke
WHY DID YOU SET UP THE BUSINESS?
EVER since I was a small boy, I had always wanted to run my own business. My dad started, then sold successfully, a plant hire company before going on to start-up a civil engineering business and I wanted to emulate him.
I formed Complete Weed Control in 2005 as a sole trader. I incorporated it as a limited company in 2011. We operate in south-east and south-west Scotland.
I took over the Complete Weed Control franchise covering the south-west of Scotland in 2006 at the age of 19 and added the franchise for south-east Scotland five years later in 2011. Since taking over the franchise for south-west Scotland, I have focused on making Complete Weed Control the country’s leading expert in this area.
In securing two contracts with local authorities in Inverclyde and the Scottish Borders this summer we have been conscious of the constraints on working, even outside, by the Covid-19 rules.
We adhere strictly to these but the gradual return to more normal working conditions has meant that there is a huge backlog of work to get through before this winter’s frosts arrive. We have been working at weekends to meet demand and have had to hire two additional team members to cope with our workload.
WHAT IS THE TARGET MARKET?
WE provide ground maintenance and weed control along highways, construction sites, parks and other public areas throughout the Central Belt. Our customers are local authorities, also businesses, principally those concerned with maintenance of the highways sectors. Complete Weed Control is an active partner with South Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, Inverclyde, Scottish Borders, West Dunbartonshire and Falkirk Councils.
Our work includes the maintenance of grass and hedge cutting along the verges of rural roads throughout local authority areas and, as well as weed control, we also provide ground maintenance, winter road maintenance and tree-cutting services.
We are also active in clearing non-native species weeds, such as hogweed and Japanese knotweed, from construction sites.
HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM COMPETING BUSINESSES?
WHILE there are others who do what we do as a kind of add-on to their bigger operations, we concentrate solely on the most effective and economical methods to achieve the best results.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT RUNNING THE BUSINESS?
BEING successful: at first it was mostly about bringing in the money then, gradually, an appreciation that it is important to get the right life/work balance. I enjoy winning tenders then delivering to the highest standard we can.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN RUNNING THE BUSINESS?
MAKING judgement calls: I walked away from a big contract which looked great on paper, but, I judged, was not going to make us any money. I had to retrench the entire business and cut back on overheads for a period.
In the end, I am relieved to say, it was the right call since, later, everything came right. We had stepped backwards to take two steps forward.
WHERE DO YOU HOPE THE BUSINESS WILL BE IN 10 YEARS?
TO continue to grow and to become known as the go-to people in our sector. To survive and prosper we are steadily becoming more resilient, steadily expanding our contracts, our kit and our people whilst always keeping an eye on the numbers My priorities are to maintain, sustain and further both the size of the business and our accreditations.
We believe we are competitive, not just on price but also on service, we are a service-led business, and I want us to be the number one contractor in our industry.
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