Claughton Couriers History

ETS Couriers was set up in 1987 by Paul Brown using one van and a Government allowance. Over the next fifteen years he built the business into quite a force in the Kent area.

He introduced a Global service, European same-day and, of course, storage to the portfolio offered to customers. The unique feather in the ETS cap was to secure contracts to supply multi-drop van and driver contracts to customers to reduce their overall delivery, transport and employment costs.

Karen Fox joined Paul in 1999 as a full time office controller and the owner driver fleet has steadily increased. In January 2000 the office was moved to the Storefast Estate, at Betsham, to improve the offer of storage facilities.

In 2001 Dave Claughton set up The Starting Grid with a van and one driver, progressing to a second van and driver in January 2002. In June 2002 Dave bought ETS Couriers from Paul (who then emigrated to Australia with his family) and, with Karen running the office, and the same, ultra reliable fleet of owner drivers, has continued with the same formula.

To assist Dave on the sales side Chris Watson has been recruited to help promote the Company. Chris is one of the drivers, helping Dave out in a part time capacity, and his knowledge is invaluable. Alice Kerr has joined as a part time office assistant and is helping Karen.

The success of the business is largely due to the policy of not grouping work together therefore we collect, transport and deliver the goods on one vehicle. This has proved especially efficient to customers with delicate or fragile goods who know that their product will arrive undamaged.