What’s your background?
I’ve had 3 jobs in total. I initially worked in manufacturing when I first left school. It was a leather manufacturers, Italian leather manufacturers, which doesn’t actually exist anymore. At the time, we produced top end stuff for Harrods and Concord. We made the complimentary gifts for the customers that were handed out on concord.
Why did you decide to join the company?
The Company I was working for moved further afield, which meant I was looking for something else. I had a mutual friend who got me an interview and then that was it, I began work. I didn’t need training, I was straight in on the binding line. In those days there was 16 plus people on the binding line across 8 benches. We used to make a lot for The MOD, who would order loads- 20-50 k binders. It was high volume in those days, whereas now the quantities are much smaller and it’s more bespoke.
What do you like the most about the team?
I’ve been here 34 years and each day is a challenge, there’s always something new happening. We all get along well, we can have a chat and pick each other up when we’re down. It’s a bit like a family.
What is your current state of mind?
Happy. Things are going good.
Which talent would you most like to have?
I don’t know about talent, but I would have liked to have had a better education.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
‘Hurry up’, ‘come on’. I don’t like leaving things, I like to complete tasks.
What do you consider your greatest achievement or the project that you feel most proud of?
Being employed all of my life. Worked my way up from the bottom to being quite good at my job. People rely on me. I had a goal and I went for it.
Your current favourites:
Music– 1975
Book– Anthony Horrowitz Forever and a day- latest James Bond.
Movie– The Avengers; it’s a bit of fantasy, bit of escapism. Bit of action