Our Vision
The Bathgate Group has a company ethos where excellence is not just achieved but championed and sustained across our current and future diverse business domains.
Our Journey
Established in 1964, The Bathgate Group, captained by owner and Chairman Roderick Walker, has been at the forefront of business excellence for over 50 years. Our journey, marked by many milestones and accomplishments, reflects our commitment to growth and innovation.
Rod begins his entrepreneurial journey by forming Archibald Bathgate & Sons (Holding Ltd) with his brother, sister and two partners from Jackson Hesketh, the accountancy firm he works for.
He initially owns a 40% share in the business, taking full ownership in 1982.
Rod buys Archibald Bathgate & Sons Ltd. and also instigates the incorporation of Archibald Bathgate & Sons (Holdings Ltd), completing in September 1964. It later becomes known as Archibald Bathgate Group Ltd, now known more fondly as Bathgate Group Ltd
Incorporated as Arclid Sands Ltd in August, 1970 with a view to transporting sand across the Midlands region, using its fleet of 4 Fodens. Now operating as Arclid Transport, with a fleet of 50 vehicles, the business transports a variety of bulk powders and liquids across the UK and Europe.
Bathgate acquired a majority shareholding in this business in 1971, employing around 325 staff. By 1974, additional factories in Chorley and Bacup were purchased and a subsequent acquisition of Grace Shoes in Massachusetts, USA took employee numbers to 930. Unfortunately, market changes meant that the company ceased trading in 1995.
Archibald Bathgate & Sons Ltd has a name change and is now known as Bathgate Silica Sand Ltd. The business grew and evolved and in 2007 moved its bagging operations from Congleton to the Arclid site. As the applications for silica sand grew, the business moved into new areas such as the equestrian and adhesive markets. By 2015, extraction levels reached their peak of 535,000 tonnes per annum and have since stabilised at 500,000 tonnes.
Rod & Ann incorporate the Bathgate Charitable Trust to fulfil their philanthropic aims, locally, nationally and internationally. Donations continue until 2024, when it’s replaced by the Bathgate Walker Trust.
Following Bathgate Silica Sand’s membership of the Silica and Moulding Sands Association, Rod is made President of the leading body for the sand industry and serves a two year term from 1981-1983.
Initially incorporated as Bathgate Leasing and based in Warrington, the business moves to West Kirby in 2009 and after widening its financial solutions portfolio in November 2020, the company is renamed Bathgate Business Finance.
The Queen bestows the title of High Sheriff of Merseyside on Rod to officiate on her behalf in that county.
He has also supported the Crown as Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Merseyside.
Rod commissions his Walker family coat of arms developed with the motto: ‘Let us achieve prosperity through planning and toil.’
Our Commitment
Bathgate believes strongly in fulfilling our corporate social responsibility in a number of ways which include supporting our local communities, providing financial help to charities through our charitable trust, adopting sustainable business practices and minimising our environmental impact when and where we can.