2018-04-12
Nine years with Kev, Andy and Rich
CEO Kevin Tunnicliffe, Business Manager Andy Sadler and Richard Evans, Telephone Account Manager are celebrating nine years with the business. We’ve spoken to them to find out their favourite moments and what they’ve learnt in this time.
Kev Tunnicliffe
In the past nine years, what three things have you learnt?
- Communication is still key.
- You have to be different. We try and bring unique products on our portal.
- Technology plays a big role.
What have been your three favourite days at SortRefer so far?
- Winning our first award back in 2014.
- Moving offices and expanding our Estate Agency proposition, Agent Butler.
- Setting up Sort Legal.
Have you had three milestones in the past nine years – big or small? What are they?
- Receiving our first paycheck, 2 years after setting up SortRefer.
- Continuing to beat our ‘best ever’ days in terms of numbers of instructions we receive.
- Each new addition to the team is a milestone for us.
Personally, what three things have you done that have been incredible in the past nine years?
- Surviving Cancer.
- My 25th wedding anniversary.
- Completing my first half marathon.
What three things are you looking forward to doing in the next nine years?
- The expansion of SortRefer, Agent Butler and Sort Legal.
- To watch Derby in the Premier League.
- To become a Grandad.
Andy Sadler
In the past nine years, what three things have you learnt?
- A lot about the conveyancing process.
- I’ve learnt it’s very important to have good relationships with suppliers.
- You can’t do everything yourself so recruit staff, delegate and share responsibilities.
What have been your three favourite days at SortRefer so far?
- The first time we achieved one of our milestones, the biggest amount of business received in a day.
- When our website was launched. We had more control and more visibility for our business.
- Taking a supplier to watch a Derby v Forest football match.
Have you had three milestones in the past nine years – big or small? What are they?
- I turned 50.
- The first time we went to London for the Mortgage Strategy awards in 2014 and we won ‘Best Conveyancing - Panel Manager’. There were just ten of us in the company at the time and we all travelled down by minibus together.
- I employed Glenn to help with the accounts side of the business.
Personally, what three things have you done that have been incredible in the past nine years?
- I ran my first marathon and since I’ve signed up to lots more!
- My wife and I had our 30-year wedding anniversary – where we went to Barbados to celebrate.
- I bought a brand new car for the first time, which was a black with a white roof, Citroen DS3.
What three things are you looking forward to doing in the next nine years?
- To grow SortRefer further and be the most successful panel manager in the country.
- I want to develop Agent Butler more.
- To run marathons around the world.
Rich Evans
In the past nine years, what three things have you learnt?
- Everyone brings different views and opinions to the table and it’s important to listen to them all.
- I have ‘re-learnt’ how to work as part of a team, because for the previous 20 years I worked autonomously in a sales role out on the road.
- A ‘will do’ attitude and hard work usually gets you where you want to be.
What have been your three favourite days at SortRefer so far?
- The day we received our first conveyancing case. At the time we didn’t have a website and worked from excel spreadsheets.
- Our first payday when we started taking a salary of £500 a month – this was over two years after SortRefer was set up and had started trading. Before this, all profits were reinvested into the company, especially the IT systems.
- Today! Because I am still part of this amazing success story. (Cheesy I know!)
Have you had three milestones in the past nine years – big or small? What are they?
- The first conveyancing case we received.
- Getting my two cross Springer Spaniel/Border Collie dogs who are brother and sister. I also recently got a new addition, a Romanian rescue dog. They are not just part of the family but the reason why I walk 4 to 5 miles every day come wind, rain, snow or sun.
- Moving from our old office in Etwall to purpose built premises in Derby Conference Centre – we now have an area to eat lunch and have a break from our screens!
Personally what three things have you done that have been incredible in the past nine years?
- Spending two weeks last year in Jamaica with my daughter.
- Swimming with dolphins for an afternoon, they are beautiful animals.
- I moved house and it’s right next to the park. Perfect for my three dogs!
What three things are you looking forward to doing in the next nine years?
- To see further expansion within our company.
- I want to buy a motorhome.
- In my motorhome I want to tour everywhere with my dogs!
