Meet the Member: AIM Access Solutions
Posted on July 7, 2014
Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Mandy Noble and I am a Director of AIM Access Solutions Limited.
The business is a family run scaffold company, based in Kirkby, Merseyside. We are Alloy Tower Specialists; providing domestic, commercial and industrial scaffolding services throughout the Northwest of England.
How did you become a director at AIM Access?
I became a Director of AIM Access Solutions Limited in 2010, AIM Access is a family run business; so I work with my Mum, Dad and 2 brothers. Our family has been in the scaffolding business since the early 1980’s, so we pride ourselves on having over 30 years knowledge and experience.
Who do you carry out work for?
AIM Access Solutions carry our work for housing associations, councils, and a range of small, medium and large construction / roofing contractors. We also provide access scaffold to solar panel installation companies.
What is your view of health & safety as a whole?
Health and safety plays an important role in all our lives, it can be time consuming with all the paperwork etc. but with common sense, most of it is second nature to us anyway. I think sometimes people can get frustrated with all the red tape; they’re often on a deadline to get works on site finished, so the pressure increases, causing shortcuts to be taken, and most of the time this is where accidents happen. But to be honest, back when my dad was a young man there wasn’t a lot of health and safety in place; and our parents and grandparents have survived to tell the tales. So most of the time I think it’s just a case of using your common sense!
How does health & safety management benefit your business?
I think it has made us more professional, definitely. Customers seem to appreciate the health & safety aspect of your business more than anything else these days, they tend to rate you based on this. For instance, we wouldn’t get half the work we do without having CHAS!
Does health & safety hinder your business in anyway?
Not really no. Scaffold erection and dismantle isn’t completed any slower than it was 30 years ago.
What would you change about health & safety?
I think it definitely needs to be simplified. There are too many forms to complete at times; I would like to think that one day, the administration side of health and safety will be simplified, yet made more effective at the same time.
What are your goals and objectives over the next five years?
To not have a repeat of the past seven years!!! The recession really did hit us hard, but now we are striving and business has taken off. We are almost as busy as we were 10 years ago. We’re looking to increase our turnover even more so, and purchase a new yard so we have the room to purchase and store more stock.
If you could do anything else, what would you do or be?
To be completely honest, I wouldn’t be anywhere else doing anything else. Corny I know, but to work with your family is a blessing, sometimes it can be very trying and demanding, but overall, very satisfying. Its a great support network because we all have the same goals and want the same successes for the business, and we work together as a committed team to ensure we are the best and we achieve the best!!
What is your motto or life quote?
Its quite a cynical one really, but it’s: “Nullius in Verba” which translates to “trust in no one”. Something dad taught me when it comes to business! So I suppose that’s why our business works, because we can trust each other! Sadly we have employed people in the past and the trust was abused, so I have learnt the hard way!