Barton Storage Systems
If you’re looking for storage and handling solutions, Barton Storage Systems is the place to go. If you become a customer, you’ll be in good company: Boots, British Telecom and Burger King are just some of the blue chip businesses that use its products.
Since the Bilston-based company was founded in 1964, its emphasis on quality and efficient service has seen it establish itself in markets around the world. Today it has clients across Europe, in the Middle East, South East Asia and the USA and an annual turnover of around £4 million.
ags has been a part of the Barton Storage success story since 2003, when a management buy-out took place and managing director Keith Bibb drew on the experience of ags director Steve Aston, whom he had originally met some years before when they played football together. He said: “He introduced me to solicitors and financial advisers and helped significantly with buying the company.”
When the buy-out was completed, the member of staff who deal with Barton Storage’s accounts was due to retire and Keith’s positive experience of working with Steve made his decision to outsource the company’s accounting function to ags a logical one.
Since then, an ags team member has visited Barton Storage’s offices once a week to deal with financial issues including payroll and preparation of management accounts – “Most of the confidential stuff,” as Keith describes it – and ags also prepare Barton Storage’s annual accounts and audit.
The arrangement works well for Keith. He says: “It’s cost-effective to outsource and we also benefit from the impartiality of ags. At the same time, I can tap into Steve’s expertise and network of contacts.
“Whatever you need, Steve always knows of someone, which is one of the main benefits of dealing with ags. Even if you don’t go on to use those people, it’s still good to bounce a few ideas around.”
In the years Keith has been working with ags, he has also come to know ags director Peter Squire and other members of the team and describes them as a “friendly crowd”, which helps to enhance a successful working relationship still further. Overall, he says: “ags add value to what we do.”
