Bedfordshire
Andy Skellham,
Andy Skellham – Stocktaker in Bedfordshire
Based in Milton Keynes Covering Northamptonshire, Beds, Bucks, Herts, Essex, & Cambridgeshire
Previously, I was a self-employed stocktaker, but the right time to progress came when I joined Stockcheck as a franchisee in 2019.
My business has grown rapidly since I joined Stockcheck. Initially, I was very busy establishing myself. The main challenge has been maintaining a good work/life balance, which can be difficult at times. The main downside I’ve found in running my own business is constantly chasing payments and dealing with people cancelling jobs at the last minute.
I served a 5-year apprenticeship as a maintenance electrician and also worked part-time at a local recreation centre and snooker club, giving me insight into the licensed trade. I ran a pub with a major pub company before transitioning into the head office as a stocktake/auditor. After being made redundant three times, I took the plunge and became self-employed. Now, 37 years later, I’m still doing the job I enjoy.
As a Stocktaker in Bedfordshire, most of the jobs I gain are through word of mouth. While you can’t please everybody, you do gain more work over time.
I received a great piece of advice when I first entered the ‘trade’ from my trainer manager: “If you can trust the person who you look at in the mirror every morning, get out.” This advice is something I still carry with me to this day.
My main passion is cycling, which I’ve been doing since I was 14. I used to race on the road and track, but now I mainly do it for pleasure. I also enjoy eating out and look forward to the future with my new partner (she’s a breath of fresh air).
