Former SES Autoparts managing director Clive Wilson reflects on a life in the auto industry after riding out the pandemic.
When we went into lockdown in March 2020, in truth, like many others we never knew whether the business would survive. At one stage we had some eighty people furloughed and could only offer a limited service to key staff and customers thanks to our fantastic and dedicated skeleton staff. Thankfully, we survived, but of course not everyone did, some lost businesses, others family and friends.
One such loss was the death of Steve Fisher who was Managing Director at Apec Braking. Steve had been a loyal supporter of SES for over twenty years. He helped us with the introduction of a new product line which has been extremely successful over the years. Not only has he supported the business but he supported my family after the death of our daughter Lisa in 2002. He ensured Apec supported every event and fund raiser for the charity we set up in her name ‘The Lisa Wilson Scholarship Fund’. For myself and my family and many in the industry Steve was a kind soul that will be truly missed.
Moments like these give pause for thought and reflection. Thirty years ago today I remember being excited and anxious about starting an exciting new venture with our new business, then named Southern Exhaust Supplies in Eastleigh, Hampshire. Supported by Bainbridge Silencers who were closing their Southampton Depot our family business opened it’s doors on May 7th 1991. My wife Trish and eldest son Scott (now M.D.) were very much part of the business and my son Ross and daughter Lisa were present for the opening ceremony. We did £700 of business on that day and the only product we had to offer was exhausts. So much has changed since.
I am so incredibly proud of how the business has developed over the years. We never had any big ambitions, we simply wanted to start a family business. However when the opportunities came we took them, sometimes gambling everything we had achieved to move forward. Within a few years we had opened in Bournemouth, Fareham and the Isle of Wight and shortly afterwards opened in Bristol. We added Bosal, Tuberex and Apec Braking to our product range and when SDL diminished we took on their sites in the West country and Wales. Today I wonder where the energy came from!
During those decades we were fortunate to build a great team of people around us who have stayed with us throughout. We now have over 20 people with 20 years service in the company. It’s those capable hands that allow myself and my wife to step away from the business. Trish has always been my most loyal supporter, backing up every decision and without hesitation putting in the hours with me that those decisions created. Finally we can begin to enjoy our twilight years together with hope on the horizon and a hell of an adventure behind us. To each of our customers that were there with us and the many staff that have shared the ride, we’d like to say thanks for the memories, and wish you all the very best for the years to come.
By Clive Wilson
Chairman - SES Autoparts
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