Transporters crowned Small Business of the Year

n a night of celebration and recognition, TMT Transport Services, owned by Andrew Fitzpatrick, clinched the prestigious Small Business of the Year Award at the annual Small Business Association (SBA) Awards.

 

The company, which had already secured the Rising Star Award, stood out for its innovative approach to moving services.

 

Fitzpatrick, reflecting on his company’s journey, told Barbados TODAY: “TMT Transport Services started as a transport company merely doing freighting and deliveries. But we saw a need in Barbados for an actual moving company. A moving company—let me put it in perspective— [like] what you would see in North America.”

 

The entrepreneur identified a gap in the market, noting: “When people are moving, along the way they would lose cushions; stuff gets damaged. You know, you’re moving with an open-back truck; rain comes down, your stuff gets wet. So we really came to fill that void. It was needed in Barbados for people to have their stuff moved with dignity and professionalism.”

 

Since its inception in 2022 with a single vehicle, TMT Transport Services has expanded rapidly.

 

“Now today, we have five box trucks, and we recently bought a flatbed,” Fitzpatrick declared. The company has invested in high-quality moving equipment, including harnesses for safety, nearly 100 moving blankets, special mattress bags, and customised crates for delicate items.

 

Fitzpatrick’s focus on setting new industry standards has been key to the company’s success.

 

“I wanted to bring some level of standard to the industry because when I came in, there wasn’t any. I’ll be honest, there was no standard within the industry. So I actually came to set that standard and set the bar. And even if somebody comes now to match that, we can go up higher,” he explained.

 

The Small Business of the Year Award came as a surprise to Fitzpatrick. “I honestly wasn’t expecting it,” he said. “We made a submission like everybody else, but obviously we wanted to win. I know the competition is tight…. When I heard TMT Transport Services was called, it had me trembling a bit.”

 

With a core team of six full-time employees, TMT scales up to 15 staff for larger projects, including government contracts. Looking to the future, Fitzpatrick envisions expanding into storage services and potentially refrigerated trucking.

 

His advice to young entrepreneurs encapsulates his success philosophy: “You could do anything you put your mind to. Think outside the box. Don’t ever think that there isn’t anything you can’t achieve. You can achieve anything.”

 

Other notable winners at the SBA Awards ceremony included:

– Henry Jordan of Sun Power Limited, recipient of the Wendell Kellman Award for leadership in the solar power industry.

– Mohammad Nassar, honoured with the John A. Watson Award for his contributions to the manufacturing sector.

– Kristle Jeffers of Handmade by Kae, who was awarded the Sandra Husbands Award for her eco-friendly body and hair products.

– Crafted by Wood, winner of the Resilience Award for adaptability and growth.

– Kelvin Carter of Mr Fish Ink, recipient of the Export Achievement Award.

– Johno’s Skate Shop, PMA Inc., and The Deaf Heart Project, joint winners of the Community Impact Award.

– Vaddis Agard of Clarity XP, winner of the Digital Transformation Award.

– Lawrence Carter, was presented with the Chairman’s Award for his volunteerism and dedication to the SBA’s programmes.

(RG)