Family values have always been the cornerstone of Andron’s success. Our CEO, Cheryl Stewart, and Chair and Co-Founder, Ron Stewart, spoke to i-FM about Andron’s journey and the importance of keeping the company in the family.
How Andron rose to prominence
Founded in the 1980s by Scottish father-and-son duo Ron Sr. and Ron Jr., the company name Andron came from ‘Ron and Ron’ and the pairs desire to be at the top of The Yellow Pages with a name beginning with ‘A’. “I was a quantity surveyor at the time, and my father was what was called back in the day a ‘sales representative’,” Ron explains. “We were both made redundant in the summer of 1980. My father was in his early 40s and had always wanted to do his own thing. Industrial-level carpet cleaning machines were considered quite revolutionary at that point.”
Today, Andron FM generates £70 million in revenue, employs 2,500 people, and services 1,000 sites across the UK. Despite its growth, the company has remained true to its family-led roots and is now under the leadership of the third generation, Cheryl Stewart, with Ron Jr. stepping up as Chair.
Forging lasting partnerships
One of Andron’s key strengths lies in its ability to build and maintain long-term relationships. Ron Jr. reflects on their early successes with pride, particularly the pivotal contract with the Bon Accord shopping centre in Aberdeen, which served as a launching pad for further expansion. Today, Andron FM’s client list includes prestigious names like the Crown Estate, C&W, MAPP, Workman, TechnipFMC and JLL. These enduring partnerships are not just based on service delivery but on genuine collaboration and the ability to swiftly respond to client needs—a capability that is core to Andron’s success. “We were making a living; the staff numbers were rising, and locally we were getting a good reputation. Then we secured a contract with the Bon Accord shopping centre in Aberdeen. We practically lived in the place to ensure everything went well, and then we thought: Each city and town has a shopping centre, which gives us a starting point—and we knew that was a winning strategy.”
The advantages of family ownership
The company’s continued family-owned independence in a market increasingly dominated by global players is a point of pride for Ron Jr. While many privately-owned companies in the cleaning and security sector have been absorbed by larger entities, Andron FM remains firmly under family control. This independence is seen as a significant advantage by clients who appreciate the consistency and personal touch that come with a family-run business.
A legacy of giving back
Andron’s commitment to its workforce and the wider community is another cornerstone of its success. The company’s ethos, deeply influenced by the founding Rons, includes a strong focus on giving back.
During the pandemic, now-CEO Cheryl Stewart spearheaded the Inclusive Employability programme, providing stable jobs for homeless individuals and refugees. This initiative not only demonstrated Andron’s social responsibility but also reinforced the company’s belief in the power of employment to transform lives and make a positive difference in society. “My dad and my granddad always had a big thing about giving back to local communities; they’ve always done their part before social responsibility was recognised. We donate one to two per cent of our profit to community projects. We’re on a net-zero journey—our fleet is now 100% electric, for example, and we’re helping customers decarbonise their buildings. We can now provide detailed reporting, building by building.”
Set for continued growth
With so many successes and many more to come, Andron is an example of how family values and strong leadership can fuel long-term business success. Read the interview in full.
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