The benefits of finding new homes for old stuff, and how we do it

Adrian is head of operations at Ramco. He’s the glue that brings all our departments together, ensuring the smooth running of everything from our warehouse to sales. A keen military historian, Adrian also oversees our boat stock. He makes sure our second-hand vessels are in shipshape and seaworthy, ready for their next voyage.

We find new homes for old teaspoons, dockside cranes and everything in between

We take anything from a teaspoon to a dockside crane. So between all that, it’s fair to say we receive some pretty unique items. But whether it’s a full-size dummy torpedo or a helicopter simulator (both of which we’ve actually had!), we do everything we can to find it a new home and help our clients make a financial return. By powering the circular economy, we’re also extending the lives of surplus assets and reducing waste.

Our team’s experience and knowledge is priceless, and we work hard to retain them

We encourage staff to grow within their roles and do as much training as they can. Job swapping also helps employees learn new skills, as well as keeping the work interesting and rewarding. Although these days I’m often in the office, I still get the chance to pop on my overalls and help sort through a new lorryload, which I love.

I’ve been at Ramco since the start, I’ve always had an interest in engineering and logistics, so it seemed like a natural fit. All these years later, I’ve done just about every job, from site clearances to sales, and the work’s still as fascinating as ever.

By investing in our team, we’ve got a fantastic retention rate. The experience and knowledge our staff have is invaluable when it comes to finding homes for second-hand equipment, especially with some of the quirkier items.

Before a new lorryload even arrives, we’re already planning its next move

Before a lorry arrives at our busy warehouse, we generally know what’s on it. Combining our vast experience and extensive global database, we’re able to research potential buyers well ahead of time and secure a return for clients as quickly as possible.

We once collected an item that caused a particular stir. The client’s expectation was it would probably go for scrap. But we saw an opportunity; after all, it’s not every day we return to the warehouse with a control desk from a nuclear power station in tow.

It was around the time of the Chernobyl television series, so interest in nuclear power was up. We assembled the desk and created a video using drone footage. When we marketed the item, it even attracted the attention of local news and radio. The desk ended up being purchased by a film props company, making a solid return for the client.

We adapt our approach depending on what a client needs

Clients are busy and aren’t always able to itemise everything they send over. Or they might send something over not knowing exactly what it is. As experts, we adapt our approach depending on the situation and the individual needs of a company.

When a client sent over a load including what they thought to be old steel candleholders, we realised instantly they were something rather more exciting. We secured the items in our safe and let our client know.

We brought in a specialist and had the candleholders valued. It turned out they were actually solid silver candelabras. We sold them through a major auction house in London where they fetched a lot of money. It was a fantastic result for the client and protected the heritage of these very special items.

Selling your surplus assets has so many benefits

Surplus assets don’t have to be antique (or from a nuclear power station) to make a return. We support clients across a huge range of sectors, including emergency services, leisure, and entertainment, helping them profit from their unwanted goods. In addition to the financial rewards, companies get peace of mind knowing they’ve done the right thing giving a new life to unwanted assets, reducing their waste stream and freeing up valuable space.