An Aberdeen supplier of specialist personal protective equipment and workwear is celebrating a year of achievements as it marks its first anniversary.
Altens-based 3Point Procurement Limited has bucked the trend in an industry which is still recovering from the recent downturn by increasing its turnover, moving into larger premises, employing an Operations Manager and growing its client and supplier bases in just 12 months.
The single-source procurement firm has also recently released its first fully branded 500+-page PPE (personal protective equipment) and workwear catalogue.
The start-up was launched last September by Barry Mitchell, against the advice of some friends, family and colleagues, many of whom thought he was ‘crazy’ to start a business in the current climate.
Barry’s background in supply chain, logistics and procurement began in 2009, when he was appointed a business development manager for freight-forwarding business RTV Worldnet Shipping in Aberdeen. In 2011, he took up the role of transport manager at a local UK and European light haulage company before being appointed warehouse and logistics manager for Rigmar Services, where he was responsible on and offshore mobilisations of PPE/Workwear, rope access kit and NDT equipment.
This, in turn, led to work with an Aberdeen-based procurement supplies business gaining further insight into PPE and workwear solutions, branding via embroidery and vinyl graphic as well as ongoing on and offshore consumable workshop supplies and single source procurement solutions.
Barry said: “When the downturn really hit the oil and gas industry, I left the company and spent a short, but valuable three months with a global MRO Supplies organisation where I gained considerable experience. It really opened my eyes to the workings of a global business of their stature and highlighted to me the need for a business that was independent and fully customer-focused. I felt there was definitely a gap in the market.
“As a result, I set up 3Point Procurement at the height of the oil and gas downturn. Some friends and family and business colleagues thought that I was crazy to do it; however, as we approach the first anniversary of the business, I know that it was absolutely the right thing to do.”
Over the past 12 months, the handful of customers who joined 3Point Procurement at the start has grown to more than 60, while the company now has more than 200 key suppliers. The company’s stock-holding has increased considerably and it has recently invested in machinery to support the growing amount of branding for PPE and workwear required.
While the bulk of its work comes from the oil and gas sector, 3Point Procurement also works with a range of other industries, including building trades, the care sector, painter and decorator businesses and even a number of sports teams.
Barry said: “The next 12 months are looking very promising and we have even bigger plans for the company. We are already working with customers in every corner of the UK and Ireland, and we are continually receiving interest from potential new customers locally, nationally and further afield due to referrals from current customers.
“Our main aim, however, is to continue to deliver a bespoke, fully customer-focussed service. The level of support we have been shown by customers and suppliers alike has been tremendous and has brought us to where we are today.”
