Metro Rod i55 Spring 24

The You Can PARTNER TRUST

METRO ROD HAS BEEN LEADING THE WAY IN DRAINAGE SOLUTIONS FOR OVER 40 YEARS

The You Can PARTNER TRUST

Metro Rod has been leading the way in drainage solutions for over 40 years, guaranteeing clients a safe, professional and honest service every day of the year. “Fully focusing on clients’ needs has been the very basis of our business,” says Managing Director Peter Molloy.

Over the four decades of its existence, Metro Rod has built an unrivalled reputation for excellence and innovation in the drainage industry. As a specialist in drain clearance and maintenance services, about 80% of which are provided on a reactive basis, the company serves national business customers across multiple sectors including facilities management, retail, water utilities, social housing, hospitality and insurance, as well as local businesses and households.

Drainage, Wastewater & Sewage Pumps plus Pumping Systems

Pump Technology Ltd – the UK’s Leading Pump Specialist

• One call to answer all replacement pump requirements

• Accurate pump match and fit if like-for-like replacement is not available

• Contact Will McPhee and the team for best price and next day delivery details

• Benefit from your Metro Rod Account

What we do for you:

In stock replacement pumps from Jung Pumpen, KSB, ABS, Flygt, Ebara, Lowara, Dab, Saniflo….

In sto ck all accessories- Level Floats, Pump Claws, Lifting Chain, Alarms, Control Panels….

In stock Floor Mounted and Below Ground Pumping Systems and Stations

One call! Connects you to our team of specialist pump experts to help you with whatever pumping application you have such as a simple, like-for-like replacement, or, if the existing pump is superseded, a replacement that will match pump performance and fit!

Our specialists are on hand to help Metro Rod Engineers select the right replacement pump first time at a competitive price for next day delivery, while benefiting from their Metro Rod agreed account 30 days payment terms.

Any pump project is fast and easy with the support of the Pump Technology Ltd team.

Wastewater and Sewage Pumping – the “Essential” service

Pump Technology Ltd is a specialist firm dedicated to providing optimal pumping solutions for a wide range of applications. Jon Bradley had a chat with Jonathan Barker, Managing Director of Pump Technology, exploring their partnership with Metro Rod, a leading name in the drainage industry.

At the heart of Pump Technology’s operations lies a deep understanding of the complexities involved in the effective pumping of wastewater and sewage. Their technical prowess spans a diverse array of pump manufactures and models, each tailored to meet the unique demands of residential, commercial, and industrial settings.

Pump Technology’s solutions are a testament to their unwavering commitment to excellence. Their portfolio encompasses an impressive range of submersible pumps for drainage, wastewater and sewage.

The relationship between Pump Technology and Metro Rod is a prime example of how collaboration can yield remarkable results. Metro Rod, a renowned name in the drainage industry, frequently encounters situations where their engineers must grapple with a wide variety of pumping challenges. In such instances, the expertise of Pump Technology’s technical team, led by Technical Manager Will McPhee, becomes invaluable.

Jonathan says, “The Metro Rod engineers can simply phone our technical team, led by Will, who will answer the phone immediately (a key part of the company’s ethos of No Answer Machines and No Button Pressing Menus) to discuss the problem and application. The solution might be a simple like-for-like pump replacement, but could also require specialist expertise from our engineers to find an equivalent pump for performance and fit when the original model is superseded. Our team will also discuss suitable upgrades and new pump and pump system installations with Metro Rod engineers if required”.

Because Metro Rod’s engineers are now well-acquainted with Will and his team’s guidance, plus the integration of product availability, the partnership is a resounding success.

Pump Technology’s extensive stock of replacement pumps and spare parts from major brands ensures that Metro Rod’s engineers can swiftly acquire the necessary replacement pumps and components for Next Day Delivery, minimizing downtime and maximizing customer satisfaction. As Jonathan remarked, “This is important to the Metro Rod engineers because it means that they can satisfy the end-user and get the job finished with a quick turnaround, underscoring the efficiency and expediency that define our collaborative efforts”.

Moreover, the partnership extends beyond mere product supply. Pump Technology’s technical acumen, spearheaded by Will McPhee’s team, empowers Metro Rod’s engineers to approach pump-related issues with confidence, secure in the knowledge that expert guidance is readily available. This synergy translates into enhanced job value for the engineers, as they can confidently present comprehensive solutions to their clients.

Pump Technology’s commitment to excellence championed by its chairman, Jeremy Brownlee, also applies to its social and environmental responsibilities. The company has consistently demonstrated a profound dedication to initiatives such as the London Irish Charitable Foundation. Through the medium of sports training, the foundation empowers young individuals, equipping them with essential life skills, confidence, and the ability to thrive in team-oriented environments.

Furthermore, Pump Technology has actively championed environmental causes by sponsoring organisations such as the UK Rainforest Trust and Surfers against Sewage, reflecting their commitment to the environment.

Pumping solutions for drainage, wastewater and sewage will always be required and companies like Pump Technology and Metro Rod will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in maintaining the effectiveness of these pumps and pumping systems.

Gil Walker, was a lady with the great vision to grow the business quickly.

Managing Director

Peter Molloy explains that the company was founded in 1983 in Macclesfield, Cheshire as a ‘one man one van’ company. “The founder of the company, Gill Walker, was a lady with the great vision to grow the business quickly, and that was accomplished through a franchise model.

Through its franchisees, the company has grown into a leading provider of drain clearance and maintenance services on a national basis. In 2016 Metro Rod expanded its range of services with the launch of Metro Plumb which today offers emergency and routine plumbing solutions to domestic and commercial customers across the UK.”

Since he joined the company as a Sales Director in 2003, Peter Molloy has himself played a key role in Metro Rod’s growth from a relatively modest business back then into a major UK-wide drainage services provider. With his vast experience and pro -

found knowledge of the business, he was appointed Managing Director in 2017 when Metro Rod was acquired by Franchise Brands plc, an international multi-franchisor with over 450 franchisees worldwide.

This was a major

milestone for Metro Rod. “Acquiring an owner that understood franchising, and could engage with the franchisees, gain the franchisees’ trust, has been a real step change and a catalyst for accelerating business development,” says Molloy.

People at the core

He further reflects that Metro Rod has a very strong position from which to grow – its 43 Metro Rod and 22 Metro Plumb franchisees and their technicians provide first-class drainage repair and maintenance

and plumbing services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, covering effectively 100% of the postcodes in mainland Britain.

“We still have a relatively small share of a large market and there is definitely room for expansion. I truly believe that we offer value for money with our national coverage and ability to rectify a

We still have a relatively small share of a large market and there is definitely room for expansion.

The franchise owners invest in their own local territories, always putting money back into their own community.

customer’s problem quickly and efficiently, for the best outcome,” he says, affirming that the focus on customer needs is the very basis of the business.

“We tend to look at the problem through the customer’s eyes – without a customer, the best solution and the best service are irrelevant. Our company is based on the belief that our customers’ needs are of the utmost importance, and our entire team is committed to meeting those needs. This is why we expanded our range of services to include tankers and pump maintenance, to ensure we could fulfil all of our customers’ demands and deliver a solution to any drainage or plumbing issue.”

As a result, a high percentage of Metro Rod’s business is from repeat customers and referrals and its reputation is well established. The company has won a number of national awards including the Franchisor of the Year in 2003; in 2016, two of its franchisees were named Young Franchisee of the Year and Female Franchisee of the Year.

The same level of attention is given to meeting the needs of the franchisees - to emphasise its commitment, the company’s head office has been renamed the ‘Support Centre’. “The franchisees grow with us and we grow with the franchisees. So the entire focus of the business is to support our franchisees. I’m proud to say that most of them have been with us for a long time – a testament to the model and the system that the company operates; that creates tangible benefits for all parties, as well as for local communities.”

Local skills, local benefit

Speaking about promoting local development, Molloy points out that franchising is a really interesting model. “The franchise owners invest in their own local territories, always putting money back into their own community. The focus on ‘local’ extends to our apprenticeship scheme which helps to develop local talent and offers young people with few or no practical skills proper training, both technical and cultural, and, ultimately, profes -

sional accreditation that will provide them with skills for life, regardless of whether they choose to stay with Metro Rod or to transfer those skills to another industry.”

He affirms that the company is well aware of the value of the human factor and continuously invests not only in training but also in the wellbeing of its staff, creating a culture that promotes respect and an enjoyable working environment. Supporting personal development is an integral part of that culture.

“Over the years we have spent a lot of effort on training our engineers to certain

mandatory standards that we’ve imposed, to ensure that we have the best skilled engineers in the industry. The heart of our business are our franchisees and our engineers so we strive to make sure that they do their job really well.

Looking back, I’m immensely proud of

the people in our franchise network as well as those working in our Support Centre and of what they have achieved.”

On a wider level, the focus on human development and local communities is reflected in the company’s support for numerous charities

and good causes. For example, to mark its 40th business anniversary Metro Rod donated 40,000 meals to FareShare the UK’s biggest charity tackling food waste for social good.

“We wanted to give something back to the communities in which we operate to

celebrate this business achievement. FareShare does amazing work redistributing surplus food and drink to vulnerable people each year across the UK. We are all delighted to be able to support them with this donation.”

Ready to grow

Reflecting on the company’s 40 years of successful growth, Peter Molloy affirms that this could not have been achieved without the hard work and commitment of its franchise owners, engineers, the expert Support Centre team, as well as the company’s trusted suppliers.

“There are really four key elements to our business – our customers, our franchisees and engineers, our Support Centre and then the supply chain. Without a robust supply chain, we can’t service the rest of the elements. To promote close relationships, we organize a franchisee conference every year where our suppliers have the opportunity to present the latest innovations and the latest technologies. Supplier partnerships are key, as they clearly help us to further enhance our service.”

In concluding, he affirms that going forward, Metro Rod will be looking at further

service improvements and expansion. “The aim is to provide a comprehensive service covering the whole spectrum from water to waste maintenance and repair.”

“We have ambitious growth targets in the short to medium term as we continue to help our franchisees grow their businesses, to attract and retain new customers and to ensure that the customer experience is the best it can be. I absolutely believe in this business; it is genuinely authentic, open and honest, focused on a great service offering for our customers. And we are working hard every single day to further improve it.”

We have ambitious growth targets in the short to medium term as we continue to help our franchisees grow their businesses businesses.