Journeys of a lifetime

In the first of a 2-part article, Movers and Storers magazine interviews AGS Group’s Andrew Elliman about his expeditions, charity work – and some of the lessons he’s learned.

Ten years ago, The Mover magazine spoke to Andrew Elliman, Head of European Business Development at AGS Group at a pivotal moment in his life – as he prepared for, and later reflected on, a charity climb of Mount Everest that captured the imagination of the removals industry and beyond.

The expedition was not only a remarkable physical achievement, but also a powerful statement about resilience, purpose and giving back.

On 25 April 2015, Andrew was on his way up to Advance Base Camp 6500m when Everest was hit by the worst earthquake it had ever seen and the team was stuck in the middle of it. The rumbling noises of the mountain and the cracking of ice will stay with him forever.

A decade on, much has changed. Andrew has continued his commitment to charitable causes, recently releasing Everest to the Channel: A Life Tested by Extremes, a deeply personal account of his Everest and the English Channel experience. Meanwhile, AGS has undergone significant growth and transformation, navigating economic uncertainty, technological change and an evolving global marketplace.

In this article, the first of two that we are publishing, Andrew reflects on the journey since Everest and his attempt to swim the English Channel in 2021 – exploring how the climb and swim shaped his outlook, and how working in the industry has evolved over the past 10 years. In our next issue, Andrew considers what lies ahead for both his career and the removals industry as a whole.

M&S Magazine: Ten years on from your charity climb of Mount Everest, what still stands out most vividly when you look back on that experience?

Andrew Elliman: Without doubt, what stands out most vividly is the earthquake itself and the sheer violence of it. Even now, I can picture the day with absolute clarity, the deafening roar of the avalanches, the ground shifting beneath my feet, and the sharp cracks of the ice splitting all around us. It was a moment of complete chaos and raw power, and the memory is still so immediate that it feels like it happened yesterday.

M&S Magazine: How did the climb change you personally, and did it alter your perspective on leadership or resilience in business?

Andrew Elliman: It most definitely changed me. I went out there focused on reaching the summit, like anyone who takes on Mount Everest would be. But what stayed with me most was something Doug Scott, the first Briton to summit Everest in 1975 and founder of Community Action Nepal, said to me. He told me, “Although you didn’t reach the summit that day, you summited in a more spectacular way through how you’ve helped the charity and other people.” That has stayed with me ever since. It completely reframed how I see success. Sometimes the summit isn’t the literal peak you set out to climb – it’s the impact you make along the way.

The same applies to leadership and resilience in business. Every leader and every organisation is striving to reach their own “summit”. But the route rarely unfolds exactly as planned. There are setbacks, unexpected events, and moments that test you to your core. What defines you isn’t whether the journey looks perfect on paper, but how you respond, how you support others, and the legacy you create in the process.

M&S Magazine: At the time, you spoke about Everest as more than a physical challenge. Looking back now, do you feel it became a defining moment in your career?

Andrew Elliman: Absolutely. When I look at my career, there’s a very clear line – before Everest and after Everest. Preparing for and attempting Mount Everest wasn’t just a physical undertaking; it became a defining chapter in my professional life as well.

In many ways, my career trajectory mirrored the climb itself. There were long periods of preparation, moments of acceleration, setbacks, and breakthroughs. But after Everest, things truly took off. The experience gave me a different level of credibility, perspective, and confidence. It was almost like continuing to climb, only this time through my career path, leading me to where I am today.

M&S Magazine: Since Everest, how has your involvement with charitable causes evolved – have your motivations or priorities changed over the years?

Andrew Elliman: Since Everest, my involvement with charitable causes has continued to grow and evolve. What began with supporting projects in Nepal, particularly through Community Action Nepal, has expanded over the years to include a range of charities and individual causes, both overseas and here in the UK. I don’t do it for recognition. In my mind, it’s simply the right thing to do. Everest reinforced for me how fragile life can be and how quickly circumstances can change.

M&S Magazine: What have been the most meaningful charity initiatives you’ve been involved in since the climb, and why did they resonate with you?

Andrew Elliman: There have been many charities I’ve been involved with over the past 10–15 years, and each has meant something different to me for very personal reasons. Community Action Nepal will always be close to my heart. That connection was forged through Everest, and the work they do to support remote Himalayan communities continues to resonate deeply with me.

Equally significant to me is Keech Hospice Care, who cared for my mother in her final days. That experience brought home the extraordinary importance of compassionate end-of-life care, not just for patients, but for families too. Last year, I also undertook a 250-mile walk to raise funds for a young man who urgently needed specialist treatment available only in Germany. My dog Heidi joined me for every one of those 250 miles, and sadly the young man passed away later that year at the age of 19.

M&S Magazine: How important is it for global organisations in our industry to embed social responsibility into its culture, rather than treating charity as a side project?

Andrew Elliman: I think it’s incredibly important. When it becomes part of the DNA of a business – how decisions are made, how people are supported, and how communities are engaged – it carries far more meaning and impact. Behind the scenes, AGS Global Solutions supports a wide range of charities and community initiatives both globally and locally. What I believe makes their approach truly credible is that they don’t actively advertise or promote everything they do. They simply do it because it’s the right thing to do, not for publicity or brand positioning.

M&S Magazine: What prompted you to finally put pen to paper and release Everest to the Channel: A Life Tested by Extremes now?

Andrew Elliman: I’d always had the idea of writing the book. In fact, I first wrote the story about five or six years ago. But when I read it back, it didn’t feel right. The tone wasn’t authentic, and it didn’t truly reflect what the journey had meant to me, so I made the decision to scrap it and start again. About three years ago, I was given some simple but powerful advice: write the book for yourself, not for anyone else. That changed everything. Ten years on from Mount Everest, I also have the benefit of perspective. Time allows you to process experiences differently – to understand not just what happened, but what it truly meant.