What was your first job?
I became a floorlayer straight from school in 1991.
How did you get into the adhesives industry?
After working as an installer/contractor, I joined a global technical team and began supporting installers with adhesives for LVT installations.
What is the best thing about working at Bostik?
The communication across the whole group. This is a very reassuring aspect and one that assists with projects across the globe. The wide product portfolio also adds depth when a specific solution is required.
What aspect are you most looking forward to about the new Bostik Academy facility?
Training for me has been right up there as a priority since 2010 when I began designing and delivering seminars. The Bostik Academy will provide a mix of blended learning, interactive seminars and the ability to host live stream webinars. This means that as well as on-the-day training delivery, we’ll be creating an everlasting experience and providing reliable, user-friendly resources for all attendees.
“The Bostik Academy will provide a mix of blended learning, interactive seminars and the ability to host live stream webinars.”
What do you think are the positive and negative aspects of the industry?
Technical and R&D departments rely on not just innovation and technology, but also the installers. Having a wealthy database of professionals keeps us inventing and providing on-the-job solutions for their individual business models. Negatives I would say are the perception of products. Too many are quick to fault a product or system, but the question for people should be: is the chosen system actually your solution?
What is the most valuable lesson you have learned so far in your career?
Enjoy what you do. As a manager, there is no better way to generate enthusiasm than to be engaged in every project that you enjoy. Don’t panic if you are not currently stood where you would like to be; you can generate enthusiasm by facing the direction in which you aspire to tread.
What do you think the future holds for the industry?
Sustainability factors: are we doing enough? Manufacturers are all doing the best we can to achieve maximum sustainability status, but every party in the industry needs to be involved. Solo or small joint campaigns to collect flooring waste or used products certainly work, but in my opinion these need to be on a wider scale, with all parties involved. A much larger collaboration would be far more beneficial.
“Manufacturers are all doing the best we can to achieve maximum sustainability status, but every party in the industry needs to be involved.”
What do most of your colleagues not know about you?
I play the guitar very badly and sing even worse.
What has been your proudest moment?
I would say working on the flooring apprenticeship scheme. Helping the next generation of installers has been great, especially as I can see them successfully working in the industry now.
Finally, if you could be any character from film or TV, who would you be and why?
It would have to be James Bond, for obvious reasons.
