Andrew Donaldson was named Cheshire Business Person of the Year at the seventh Trinity Mirror Cheshire Business Awards. The category was sponsored by Bank of America.
Andrew is the founder of the BiG Storage company and stated “I am over the moon. You never think you will get to win something like this. There is nothing better than someone else saying you are doing a good job. It is great to be rewarded by your peers.”
Andrew was granted a £2,000 loan from The Prince’s Trust in 1991 which he used to set up a warehouse fit out company in Crewe. Active Supply and Design (CDM) Limited which became one of the most successful businesses in the scheme’s 25-year history. From those humble beginnings Active is the market leading self-storage fit-out company in the UK and BiG Storage is his 3rd and latest self-storage venture since he set up Rent-A-Sapce in 1999.
“The Prince’s Trust gave me the morals and principles of investing in other people just as they believed in me when no-one else would,” he said. “Money cannot buy belief: belief is not for sale.”
This year BiG Storage was an official partner of Rhino Mania in Chester, using the hugely popular art project to raise money for the Hospice of the Good Shepherd.
BiG Storage has invented and implemented numerous community marketing strategies in the its local areas to the benefit of all. Sport has played a big part in the company’s initiatives since they rescued the Cheshire (Chester) Jets in 2007 – the company has partnered with the Warrington Wolves Rugby League team and the Wolves Foundation. The company is a leading supporter of Chester FC and the new mascot BiG Lupus.
