Q&A: Douglas Anderson
12 May 2023
Douglas Anderson is Joint Managing Director of GAP Group, the family owned national hirer which currently operates from more than 175 locations across the country and has ten specialist divisions.
How’s business?
We’re busy. Some people detect an easing in the market but I don’t bother too much about what is reported in the media. Generally we believe we can continue to increase our market share. The basic business drivers remain and there is plenty of work to go after. For example, there is still a shortage of housing, particularly rental properties.
Is any type of equipment particularly in demand?
There is certainly more interest in ‘eco’ equipment and we are adding more to our fleet – but the challenge is getting customers to pay for it. Some machines can be three times the price of a non-eco equivalent, but will the client pay three times the rate? Governments throughout the world seem to think that problems like climate change can be solved automatically by legislation, but you have to win the hearts and minds of people and present a sensible economic case for making changes.
What is the main challenge currently facing the industry?
Recruitment and retention of people, and that’s probably not going to change any time soon. In any company you have to look after your staff and give them opportunities to advance. For instance, GAP are members of the 5% Club charity whereby, at any given time, at least 5 per cent of our workforce are following formalised training schemes or apprenticeships.
What is the best part of your job?
The immense variety. And being able to channel enthusiasm in the business. People can have enthusiasm but they have to be focused and it’s up to the leaders of the company – not just the managers – to identify it and develop it, which is hugely satisfying.
How do you do that?
You take people to a certain level and then on to the next one, and the one after that and so on. Most people in any business are capable of taking on more responsibilities, perhaps contrary to popular belief. They achieve more job satisfaction – and they earn more! If you are stacking shelves in a supermarket, you should want to become the chief shelf stacker, then get a junior position in procurement and so it goes on. You just need dedication, commitment and enthusiasm. Managers manage, leaders lead; perhaps some companies have a shortage of good leaders…
And what is the worst part of the job?
What I call black shadows: negative people whose attitude and output are poor while being paid the same as others in their team. They have to be dealt with: if not, those who do pull their weight become disillusioned and lose respect for their managers. And a black shadow is obviously in a job that doesn’t suit them either.
What frustrates you?
The proportion of people doing ‘non-jobs’ in government and bureaucracies who don’t produce anything meaningful. We do need some red tape or there would be anarchy, but there are too many people who are very busy ticking boxes, producing statistics, writing reports; however, when you ask them what they’ve actually achieved there’s no real answer. Their non-jobs are worthless. The country is short of labour everywhere else, so surely they could be redeployed.
What was your favourite school subject?
Art. I was very keen on making 3D scale models of buildings.
If things had been different, what other career might you have considered?
I would have become a builder. When I was 25 I started buying and refurbishing properties in my spare time. After work was done at GAP each day, I would be working five evenings a week and at weekends doing all the joinery, plumbing and decorating required. I never wanted to take any money from my parents [GAP’s legendary founder Gordon Anderson and his wife Joyce] because that would have been like an admission of defeat. This construction activity also helped me fund my passion for flying: I soon got my pilot’s licence and then went on to fly helicopters.
I still do some property development, almost as a hobby, including homes, offices and apartments. I also design each GAP depot: we have developed a basic format over the years that suits us well and we fine-tune it accordingly.
What’s the best piece of advice that you’ve ever been given, or that you would pass on to others?
The Nike slogan: Just Do It. There are a lot of good talkers around but not many doers. And people don’t listen enough: listen to everyone and have empathy with them.
Anything else?
Pass on your knowledge and skills. In the 1930s Charles Forte [the Italian-born Scottish hotelier who founded the leisure and hotels conglomerate that ultimately became the Forte Group] was regarded by many as the finest chef in London. He recalled later that if he hadn’t passed on his talents to others, he would still have been the best chef – but he wouldn’t have gone on to create his vast business empire.
Do you follow a particular sport and/or team?
No. I’ll watch a good game of anything but I don’t support anyone.
What new skill would you like to learn?
To play the piano. [Coincidentally, this is also what Douglas’s brother Iain said in his earlier Q&A for the blog].
If you could invite three famous people (past or present) to dinner, who would you choose?
Nelson Mandela, Napoleon Bonaparte and Mahatma Gandhi. All great leaders of people who understood humankind and the use of power.
What’s the secret of success?
Hard work and integrity.
What would you do if you won the lottery (after charitable acts)?
I’ve never bought a lottery ticket. I am staunchly against gambling of any kind. It’s pernicious and must be the worst addiction anyone can get.
Finally, any future plans or anything you’d like to highlight?
To grow GAP further and help young people develop their skills in our business and as part of this great industry. The built environment is the basis of modern life throughout the world and you are lucky if you are involved with it in any way. People need houses, hospitals, factories, roads and sanitation but construction is shockingly undervalued and poorly treated by society. Many just regard these things as a given. However, mankind’s ingenuity in creating infrastructure and the means to make life continuously better never ceases to amaze me. And we’ve still really only scratched the surface.
● Don't forget to explore the Site-Eco area of the blog for news of sustainable products and developments relevant to the world of hire.
