Not only is Albert Jagger celebrating 135 years of business this year, but the Cooper family are celebrating a milestone of their own… Andrew Cooper, Director of Albert Jagger Holdings is celebrating his 10th anniversary with the company!
“From a young age I always wanted to work for the family business. I remember coming home from school and asking if we’d had a good day at work, I think I was only 11 or 12 at the time. It has always meant a lot to James & I to carry on our great-grandfather’s legacy”
Joining the company at the age of 18 in September 2012, it was essential for Andrew to understand how the business worked. Spending over 2 years in the warehouse, he went from sweeping floors to learning the roles of goods inwards, despatch and export.
Next up was the sales department and learning how to use the ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system, spending his days inputting sales orders. Another 2 years went by, and it was time to learn the roles of purchasing, dealing with pricing, freight, and managing deliveries for the warehouse.
Alongside his full-time role at Albert Jagger, Andrew completed a college course with the Peter Jones Business School, quickly learning the foundations of setting up and running a business.
Following his studies, he took an interest in Group activities, followed by a trip to Albert Jagger New Zealand with Group Chairman, Garth Cooper. Acquisition of Prestwood Engineering in October 2016 was an opportunity to showcase his new business skills, meeting with customers, learning new processes and systems, whilst spending time getting to know the staff.
One of Andrews biggest achievements was his role in the redevelopment of Albert Jagger Engineering in 2018. Teaming up with the MTC (The Manufacturing Technology Centre), they managed the project from start to finish with months of planning - from decorating to installation of a new roof.
Working in all departments helped Andrew learn the shopfloor skills required to help run the business alongside his older brother James Cooper, Managing Director. Fast forward to 2022 and Andrew is now a confident young man on the board of directors of Albert Jagger Holdings, ensuring seamless communication across the group with a focus on business efficiency and growth.
The company is evolving at a fast pace, but Albert Jaggers key principles and values once implemented by Andrew’s great-grandfather remain the same.