EW Awards2017


Lifetime Contribution Award for R&B Star’s Bob Robertson


The EW Awards culminated in a significant honour for industry stalwart, Bob Robertson, Chairman of R&B Star, the Maidstone, Greenwich and Crayford-based independent electrical wholesaler. In a touching tribute to Bob, EDA Director, Margaret Fitzsimons gave a revealing insight into Bob’s background, what he has given to the industry over the years and why he is so very deserving of our Lifetime Contribution Award.


By Margaret Fitzsimons I


n 1975 a young man embarking on a successful career with Mercedes Benz was persuaded by his father to join


the family’s 15-year-old electrical wholesaling business. Full of enthusiasm and corporate ideas from the motor industry he presented his vision to the board of the family firm who, once they had stopped laughing, unanimously agreed that the ideas were bonkers and that our honoured winner must learn the business from the bottom up. Like so many in this industry, his wholesaling


career started with van driving and working in the warehouse and then progressed through all departments of the business – all the while trying to be accepted by long serving staff – not easy when your Dad is the one of the owners. It was in the purchasing department that this person found their niche and where long-standing and trusted relationships were built with manufacturers and suppliers. When he was still in his mid-twenties, he bought out the business and grew it into a highly successful £15m independent electrical wholesaler with three large branches and a staff of 80.


The business weathered many economic downturns and had to adapt to the arrival of new competitors and the Internet. This it has done – and its first ingredient for success has been its investment in and empowerment of its staff, many of whom are very long standing. In fact the longest serving staff member was the first ever employee of the company who joined in the early 1960s! Our winner can be justly proud of the Investor in People Standard awarded to the company.


Valued relationships The second ingredient for success has been the mutually respectful and valued relationships the company enjoys with suppliers. But a person does not win Lifetime


30 | electrical wholesaler June 2017


Contribution award for simply building and running a successful business. This award is being given for the myriad industry and charitable contributions they have made over many years.


This person was instrumental in the creation of the buying group we know today as ANEW which was formed in 1993 through a merger of CREW and NEDA and later joined by EMMA in 2001, and he has been an active supporter of the group ever since.


Our winner is also the longest serving member of the EDA Board having joined in 1990 when it was the EWF and served as President from 1994 to 1996. In his time on the Board he has served on several sub committees and been involved in many initiatives including overseeing three moves of office, working with three directors, overseeing the publication of yearbooks and newsletters and looking after finances.


Lobbying For me, the highlights were his Government lobbying activities, in particular trying to persuade the Government, on behalf of the EWF, to convert the UK to Central European Time. He also worked with the manufacturing and contracting associations to try to lobby Kenneth Clarke to regenerate the construction industry and, in 1996, to develop an industry position on monetary union in Europe. Unbelievably, this person has attended 68


EDA Board meetings over 27 years – an achievement award in its own right. So this person’s knowledge and wisdom can be called upon and has proved invaluable. Through various fund-raising activities over


several years, he and his family have raised over £50,000 for the charity fighting Muscular Dystrophy. They started by holding fund raising classical music concerts but then took a big risk a few years ago and organised their first fund- raising black tie dinner – now an annual event


Bob Robertson, Chairman of R&B Star, received a standing ovation after being announced as this year’s Lifetime Contribution Award winner.


that has gone from success to success. The next big fundraiser is to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro and our award winner was the first person to volunteer – he has subsequently been persuaded by his loving family that this is not a good idea! I am sure that despite all this success, our winner would probably say that his greatest achievement is building a happy and loving family with his wife Marion. Theirs is a home filled with music and close knit brothers and sisters. As well as that, sons, daughters and cousins are all involved in the business full time or part time. That must be the envy of us all. Ladies and Gentlemen, please be upstanding for this year’s Electrical Wholesaler Lifetime Contribution Award Winner, Bob Robertson of R&B Star.


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