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Company profile

Humble Beginnings

Starting in 1970 John Phillips along with two business partners, saw a gap in the materials handling equipment market and created a one-stop-source for all types of handling apparatus available at the time. It was a forward thinking step towards helping British industries safely lift and move their products in the workplace. Companies now no longer needed to seek out various suppliers for their handling equipment as Action Handling could fulfil their requirements through a single, easy to make order.

Action Handling has always been a small family business. It started by selling hand trucks, trolleys and pallets in London and the Home Counties. The initial marketing was done via sales representatives knocking on doors in a bid to serve their customers. In 1986 a 60 paged black and white mail order catalogue was produced to help expand the customer base and by 1992 these had been replaced by colour editions with an ever increasing number of pages added over the subsequent years. Currently, there are 600 pages in the annually produced catalogue, ten fold that of the first edition! As technology advanced, so did Action Handling and by launching their first ecommerce website in 2005, they have retained a strong presence in the materials handling market.

Bespoke Offerings

Action Handling's roots are in steel fabrication and engineering, so from the very outset have offered their customers bespoke made products, tailored precisely to their requirements. To this day, they design and supply fabricated trolleys, workbenches, trailers, trucks, stillages, conveyors, steps, cages, pallets and structural steelwork as part of their unique list of services.

Raising the Bar

A successful business recognises its customers needs and adapts accordingly, so from the late 90s, the product range increased dramatically to help satisfy the increasingly diverse range of companies purchasing from Action Handling. In the early 2000s they began to offer servicing and repairs to pallet trucks, lifters and other mechanical handling equipment to further increase the expanding list of available services. The changes in H&S law for servicing lifting equipment allows Action Handling to help companies comply with LOLER, PUWER and Thorough Examinations.

Going Above and Beyond

Action Handling pride themselves on their customer service. It starts the moment initial contact is made with a customer and remains in place throughout and beyond any transaction. Fifty plus years of trading has built a wealth of knowledge within the company which is used daily to ensure every buyer receives the best possible service and advice.

Where to Next?

The company continually strives to offer the very latest innovative products alongside training, servicing and repairs of handling equipment. Companies looking to resolve their production problems caused either through lack of efficiency, have a need to enhance safety within the workplace or improve order fulfilment times, Action Handling will be there to offer advice and solutions and to maintain its consistent high level of service.

Meet the team

Jonathan Ball

Hi there

  • My name: Jonathan Ball
  • My job title: Sales Manager
  • Year I started at the company: 1991

My job

  • My areas of expertise: Bespoke lifting solutions.
  • Most fulfilling part: Visiting sites to help to find solutions for customers, so they can have a safer and better working environment.

Outside of work

  • Hobbies: Watching West End theatre and sport, especially Arsenal's men's and women's teams, playing tennis and golf.
  • Family: son Nathan and daughter Keira.
  • Pets: Teddy the sprocker spaniel and Guinea pigs Marcus and Dexter.
  • Favourite holiday destination: Alghero Sardinia, amazing scenery and food.
Hayley Walsh

Hello

  • My name: Hayley Walsh
  • My job title: Accounts Manager
  • Year I started at the company: 2004

My job

  • Most fulfilling part: Maintaining good working relationships with customers and suppliers.
  • Noteworthy achievements: Completing Level 2 AAT.

Outside of work

  • Hobbies: Gardening.
  • Family: Daughter, Gracie.
  • Favourite food: Pasta/fish.
  • Pets: Cat, Rose.
Steve Phillips

Hello

  • My name: Steve Phillips
  • My job title: Sales Director
  • Year I started at the company: 1986

My job

  • Most fulfilling part: Meeting new customers and explaining how we can help them.
  • Future goals: To be able to look back and feel proud that my brother and I continued the success that our late father created.

Outside of work

  • Family: Sons Luke and Cameron and daughter Imogen.
  • Favourite film: Monty Python's Life of Brian.
  • Favourite book: Papillon (much better than the film version).
  • Favourite band/musician: Santana.
Stacey Walsh

Hiya

  • My name: Stacey Walsh
  • My job title: Product Manager
  • Year I started at the company: 2007

My job

  • My areas of expertise: Customer service and problem solving.
  • Noteworthy achievements: Streamlining the liaison between Action Handling and the production team to further enhance the range of products.

Outside of work

  • Favourite film: John Q.
  • Favourite book: The Rosary Girls by Richard Montanari.
  • Favourite food: Anything Italian.
  • Pets: Dogs Blue (Pomchi - half Pomeranian/half Chihuahua) and Dot (a Border Collie) aka Dumb and Dumber.
Paul Phillips

Greetings

  • My name: Paul Phillips
  • My job title: Managing Director
  • Year I started at the company: 1979

My job

  • Most fulfilling part: Bringing together our great staff members and third party support, to reach a common goal.
  • Noteworthy achievements: Steering the ship for over 30 years out of the 50+ years Action Handling has been in business.

Outside of work

  • Hobbies: Anything with a ball, trekking, climbing, motorcycles and sailing.
  • Favourite film: Pretty Woman.
  • Favourite holiday destination: Chile.
  • Favourite band/musician: Led Zeppelin (but a very long list of favourites).
Clare Young

Hello

  • My name: Clare Young
  • My job title: Admin Assistant
  • Year I started at the company: 2022

My job

  • My areas of expertise: Accounts and administration.
  • Most fulfilling part: Assisting customers to fulfil their requirements.

Outside of work

  • Hobbies: Hockey, hula hooping, fire eating, reading.
  • Family: Four children, Lewis, Thomas, Hannah and James.
  • Pets: Cat, Freddy who is a complete loon.
  • Favourite band/musician: Pink.

Company Info

Celebrating 50 years in business
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