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LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: A lifetime of work celebrated
THIRTY-FIVE years ago marked the birth of an electrical and engineering giant, built up by Halifax man Tony Gartland.
He was close to tears as he spoke of his surprise at recievung the Lifetime Achievement Award.
"I can honestly say it really was a surprise. I'm extremely flattered.
I was born and raised in Halifax and achieved some success in Halifax and lived my whole life in Halifax. To be awarded with this honour is truly special."
He received a standing ovation.
In the late 1960s Tony became works accountant at Process Units in Halifax, which made controls for commercial laundries.
It changed its name to Fisher Kar-Park Industries and switched to producing parking meters after being bought by a Hull company.
It was in 1973 that Tony, now a director, made the momentous move to buy the company with two partners.
He spent the next 22 years creating the business empire.
The company began a takeover drive in the 1980s, which included buying UK leading engineering group Babcock International in a 427 million deal before changing the company name to FKI Babcock.
As a result Tony was at the head of 30,000 workers and a diversified engineering company with a turnover of 1.2 billion.
In 1989 he stepped down from actively running the business and with former FKI partner Jeff Whalley began a string of global company buy-outs .
The pair formed Halifax-based Gartland and Whalley Securities - later Gartland Whalley and Barker (GWB), when FKI colleague James Barker joined - which they used to buy run-down companies, turn them round, and then sell them.
The company would grow businesses to the point where they could be floated or bought by venture capitalists.
It specialised in buying and developing small industrial businesses and companies, serving customers in the UK, North America and Europe.
Mr Gartland thrust himself heavily into the community too, joining Business in the Community, the Prince of Wales' Youth Business Trust, Calderdale and Kirklees Training and Enterprise Council, and as a trustee of the Eureka Children's Museum.
He had a long association with Halifax Rugby League Club and stood down as chairman in 1995 to become a non-executive director. The 66-year-old has appeared in the top 1,000 of The Sunday Times Rich List, and this year was ranked at 1794.
Business Link Yorkshire sponsored the award.
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