Name:

John Kyle.

Age:

57.

What is your business called?

Caledonian Marts Ltd.

Where is it based?

Stirling.

What services does it offer?

Full auctioneering, valuation and property services and we provide a host site for a variety of businesses.

To whom does it sell?

Farmers, butchers, meat wholesalers, machinery and plant dealers.

What is its turnover?

We generate around £25m sales through the auctions we hold and earn a commission on the proceeds.

How many employees?

15, plus another 12 on sale days.

When was it formed?

The market opened in 1963 on a former colliery site on the very edge of Stirling, ideally located for access by the farming community from all points of the compass. Initially the business was started by a co-op of local farmers who wanted to maintain competition in the auctioneering sector in Stirling.

Why did you take the plunge?

I started at the mart in November 1977, as a trainee auctioneer, straight from school. Over the following years I worked my way up through the ranks to become Senior Cattle Auctioneer.

My predecessor, our previous General Manager, sadly passed away in July 2014 and I was asked to step up to that role. The business was facing challenges at that time after £3.75m debts proved to be unrecoverable.

We investigated all the options and the mart site was put up for sale. We had a lot of interest from all sectors, including rival auction firms, property developers and so on.

Eventually, we found a buyer for the site, the Gilvear family. This allowed it to continue as an auction mart after the old Caledonian Marts (Stirling) company went into administration.

What were you doing before you took the plunge?

I had spent 37 years learning the auctioneering trade. Every day is a learning day!

What was your biggest break?

My biggest break was undoubtedly being appointed as Managing Director of the new Caledonian Marts Ltd. My previous period of nine months as general manager was a real challenge both for myself and the staff. I am delighted that we pulled through and proud that my determination was recognised and resulted in my new role.

What do you most enjoy about running the business?

The challenge of growth and setting the business up to face the future in a competitive climate. Each day is different.

I have really enjoyed all my years as an auctioneer and it’s great that I can still get pleasure out of that, which not many people can say.

What is your biggest bugbear?

People not paying their bills on time. I guess it is the same in all businesses and sectors – having to chase people for money is not great fun!

What are your ambitions for the firm?

I would like to see us build on the long heritage of the business, its central location and the strong foundations we have established over the past three years to become a strategic hub for auctioneering, agricultural and storage and distribution activities. We have already made good progress in this objective. A farm shop has recently opened on the site which is going extremely well, and we have built a new auction hall to house our growing plant and equipment business. However, there is so much more we can do to achieve our vision.

What are your top priorities?

Expanding the range of services which we offer to our customer base; increasing awareness of our name and brand across Scotland; upskilling and growing our first-class team of staff; further investment in our property and infrastructure; control of our cost base through alternative ways of working.

What single thing would most help?

A new auctioneer. The way the business is growing we certainly need another person in the rostrum. This would hopefully free me up to spend less time selling and more time as managing director, even though I do love the buzz of auctioneering.

What could the Westminster and/or Scottish governments do that would help?

One thing that would be a great help would be giving more certainty to farmers in terms of what the trading world is going to be like post Brexit. Will we still be able to export Scotch Lamb and Scotch Beef to our big buyers in Europe?

I also think that the subsidy system at present is too far geared towards reducing livestock numbers. We do not have the same throughput of stock across Scotland as we used to, and everyone in the red meat chain is feeling the decline.

The consumer demand for top quality Scotch meat is definitely there, but the financial incentive for farmers to keep and produce more breeding stock is not great!

What was the most valuable lesson that you learned?

To ensure the business has the range of skills needed to develop and grow. We have a strong and diverse board of directors which provides valuable input to our strategy.

How do you relax?

With my wife and daughter, a gin and tonic and the annual holiday. This business can be 24/7 so sometimes there is not a lot of time to relax, but I do like to switch off when I get home if at all possible.