On-site Visit: AV Dawson

Launched with £50 and a horse called Dina, almost eight decades later AV Dawson has become one of Teesside’s best examples of a business that has thrived by adapting to changing environments and markets.

The third generation to lead the family business, Gary Dawson was appointed managing director in 2000 and has grown the business on the back of his belief that maximising the potential of people will bring the company, their customers and the wider region prosperity.

AV Dawson now offers a unique and fully integrated range of road haulage, rail freight, warehousing and port services. As a result, the company is renowned for its quality delivery and emphasis on customer experience. Combine this with a £12.6m investment in infrastructure and it’s easy to see why AV Dawson continues to win multi-million pound contracts and go from strength to strength.

Employing over 240 people across Teesside, Gary is focussed on turning the North East into a strategic entrance point to the UK for the rest of the world.