12:17pm Wednesday 8th July 2009
A ROCK ‘n’ roll trucking company is making its new home in the heart of the Hampshire countryside.
Robert Hewett, boss of Stagetruck, currently has 38 of his silver fleet of vehicles on the road carrying 600 tonnes of equipment for the Take That Circus tour. Other big name customers include Robbie Williams, Lily Allen and Cold Play.
On top of this, his firm transports equipment and sets for big events such as the MTV awards and the Cannes Film Festival. He has even taken English National Opera to Russia.
Soon Stagetruck will be applying for planning permission to build a new headquarters on a seven-acre site at Larkwhistle Farm Road in Micheldever, near Winchester.
Mr Hewett, who left school at 15 with no qualifications, started the business in 1980 and over the next 29 years built it up into one of the UK’s top rock and roll trucking companies.
Despite his success, the company boss is still happiest behind the wheel of one of his 45ft trailers.
He said: “We are in the top three in terms of quality of operation. There is one other that has more rolling stock than us but I never wanted lots of trucks. And another company that does really big trucks. But I have the best drivers of any rock and roll company without a doubt.”
He says Stagetruck doesn’t just provide a “box on wheels” and driver but pays attention to details like travel permits to complete the tour successfully.
It is a tactic that has worked well. Customers keep coming back.
Mr Hewett said: “I went on Robbie Williams’ first tour. I drove the truck when it was a one-truck tour and we did his last tour with 33 trucks. He knows most of my drivers and we play football and things with him.”
Other clients include David Bowie, Alice Cooper, UB40, Steely Dan, Foreigner, Pet Shop Boys, Depeche Mode, Il Divo, Foreigner and Peter Gabriel.
Mr Hewett started out in the music industry as a sound engineer during the punk rock era. He got involved in transport after becoming annoyed with trucks turning up late and dirty to transport his gear.
Today Stagetruck has a total of 60 vehicles, about 80 employees and a second base on a two-acre site near Heathrow.
It was the beauty of the countryside, the good motorway links and some of his key staff living nearby that led him to choose Micheldever as a new location for his company.
He acquired the site – previously used for storing liquid fertiliser in giant silos – in 2006 and was granted an operators licence to keep his trucks there.
Mr Hewett said: “Now local people are saying they never see my trucks. Our trucks go away on tour. They don’t go in and out daily. But we moved the 38 trucks from here that are out on the road with Take That.”
Mr Hewett plans to invest millions in the site and make warehousing a more important part of the business with proposals for 780,000 sq ft of storage space for sets and equipment.
The high security site has electronic gates and razor wire fencing. Additionally, the scheme drawn up by Hursley-based Pro Vision Planners and Architects includes trailer parking and a new building for setting up stages before tours.
Mr Hewett said: “The plan is to move everything to Micheldever but I don’t have a fixed agenda.
“It is a lovely spot and we want to make the buildings as green as possible.”
The father-of-two is also keen to employ more local people and is passionate about providing training for youngsters.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/trade_directory/