Meet the team at Corby
We’re pleased to introduce some team members at our Corby (Premier Galvanizing*) plant. From left to right we have David Prattis, Lisa Sutton, Daren Stevens, Anna Stocks, Bob Preston, Heather Elmore and John Frankland.
Find out more about the team below:
David Prattis joined Premier Galvanizing Corby as General Manager in September 2019. He has over 30 years’ experience in Steel and Aluminium Coil Coating, supplying product into the Construction and Leisure Industries. Before joining Premier Galvanizing, he spent 10 years as Plant Manager for an International Coil Coating Company based in the UK and The Netherlands.
Lisa Sutton is the Corby Office Manager. She is a long-standing member of the team, having worked for the company for 14 years, ensuring the smooth operation of all business administration.
Daren Stevens has been with Premier Galvanizing since it originally opened in September 2002 as an experienced Operative. He previously worked with Bob Preston (below) at Clark Steel. Working his way up from Shift Supervisor, he became Works Supervisor, then Galvanizing Manager. He was promoted to Operations Manager last year. Having worked at the plant for many years, Daren has expert knowledge in running a busy galvanizing plant.
Our Corby plant operates eight dedicated lorries to service customers’ needs giving a fast turnaround of typically 2-3 days. As Operations Manager, Daren also ensures these collections and deliveries run smoothly.
Anna Stocks is the Financial Controller for Premier Galvanizing and operates across two plants (Corby and Hull). She is a valuable member of the team and has worked for the company since 2016.
Bob Preston has a wealth of experience in galvanizing, having worked in the industry since 1972. Throughout his career, Bob has progressed through the galvanizing business from Shift Operative, to Works Manager, to Production Manager and onto his current position as Production Director. In this role Bob supports all other members of the customer focused team in delivering an exceptional all-round service.
Heather Elmore is experienced in administration, bookkeeping and credit control. She has worked with the Corby team for over three years providing much needed assistance in the office.
John Frankland joined Premier Galvanizing in September last year as Sales Manager. John is new to the galvanizing industry and has a background in Capital Equipment Sales to the manufacturing and metal fabrication sectors. John works at our Corby plant providing hot dip galvanizing services from Mansfield and Nottingham in the north, following the A1, M1 and M11 routes down through the country and covering the north half of London from Essex in the East through to Berkshire in the West.
The entire Corby team take pride in delivering an unbeatable service in terms of quality, turnaround and doing exactly what they promise. If you have any questions or queries, or if you’d like to place an order, please get in touch with the Corby team.
*Premier Galvanizing is part of the Joseph Ash Group.
Matt Green and Myles Durward from Joseph Ash nominated for In-Comm Training and Business Services Awards
On 7 June 2019 the annual In-Comm Training and Business Services Awards were held at the ICC in Birmingham. The Awards celebrate and reward young apprentices and adult learners across the West Midlands, and this year team members from Joseph Ash Chesterfield were there to celebrate their training achievements.
Matt Green and Myles Durward have both been completing JAC Level 2 of In-Comm’s BIT training. As part of this course they are learning new skills to take back to Joseph Ash Chesterfield. Skills include looking at ways to be more efficient (and remove wastage) in the following plant processes: Overproduction, Transportation, Waiting, Inventory, Defects, Motion and Process.
Myles and Matt were both nominated for the ‘Learner of the Year: Continuous Improvement’ award, and on the night, Matt walked away with a ‘Highly Commended’ accolade.
Six other team members from Joseph Ash Galvanizing have also completed their Level 2 training, and alongside Matt and Myles, will be moving onto Level 3. A new team from Joseph Ash will also start Level 2. (Back row left to right: James Crookes, Matthew Phillips, Dean Holland, Matt Green. Front row left to right: Mark Payne, Myles Durward, Dave Foster (In-comm trainer), Wayne Smith)
Congratulations to all our team members endeavouring to learn new skills, improve our plants and further their careers. The commitment to learning is great! A special congratulations to Matt and Myles too.
Thanks for such a great event In-Comm!
Certificate in Leadership and Management for team members at Joseph Ash Galvanizing
We’re pleased to announce that five members of our team across five of our plants have recently completed the Certificate in Leadership and Management, Levels 3 and 5.
The course is designed for middle managers to develop and strengthen their skills including management and leadership, managing team and individual performance. It also enables them to become stronger leaders by discovering new and innovative ideas and creative approaches to business management.
The five team members are:
- Tracie Lockley – Level 5 – Deputy Divisional Manager, Joseph Ash Telford
- Sukhwinder Singh – Level 5 – Deputy Divisional Manager, Joseph Ash Walsall
- Mark Payne – Level 5 – Divisional Manager, Joseph Ash Chesterfield
- Rob Nelson – Level 5 – Divisional Manager, Joseph Ash Bilston
- Kevin Williams – Level 3 – Divisional Manager, Joseph Ash Bridgend
The course was conducted by Professional Development Training Ltd, in Birmingham.
It’s always good to put a face to a name… With this in mind we thought we’d introduce some of the team at Premier Galvanizing Hull* (one of our sister companies)
From left to right we have: Steve East (Production Manager), Conner Harman (Business Support Officer), Alex Camp (General Manager), Chris Young (Commercial Support Officer) and Andrew Tweddle (Commercial Manager).
Steve East, Conner Harman and Chris Young oversee the production and transport side of the operation at Hull. Always willing and able to assist with any collection and delivery needs, keeping customers up to date with the progress of their work. The team are available from 5am to 5pm Monday to Friday and can be reached on 01482 587587.
Alex Camp – General Manager
Alex has worked for Premier Galvanizing for over 12 years and has a wealth of knowledge in galvanizing. He always takes service to the next level and ensures that all customers are at the heart of the business. Most recently he has been overseeing a significant overhaul of the plant including the installation of new automated systems to further the growth and efficiency of Premier Galvanizing Hull. Alex is available to assist with any technical queries and quotes.
Andrew Tweddle – Commercial Manager
For any enquiries or quotes for galvanizing work, or for any technical questions, contact Andrew on 07776 592008. Andrew is out and about visiting customers on a daily basis ensuring service levels are at their best and customers are happy with the work we produce for them.
*Premier Galvanizing is part of the Joseph Ash Group
Wow! What a quarter we’ve had for celebrating long-time service achievements at our plants. Eight team members have celebrated anniversaries ranging from 20 to 35 years across the Bilston, Walsall, Chesterfield and Telford plants. Amazing!
Here are the details:
Andrew Stote
In January Andrew reached his 20-year anniversary at Joseph Ash Bilston. With a keen eye for quality control, Andrew has been a night shift supervisor and a white line leader.
John Spruce
In February, John also reached 20-years’ service at Joseph Ash Bilston. John has worked on the black line, jigging the work. He has also been a fork lift truck driver at the plant.
Andrew Gale
Andy began working at Joseph Ash Telford in 1999, and 20 years later (as of February) we’re pleased to say he’s still here! A competent and experienced member of the team, he has spent many years working in the pre-treatment area as a pickler. More recently he has taken the opportunity to put his broad experience to good use by becoming a shift supervisor.
Peter Jones
Peter joined Joseph Ash Chesterfield 20 years ago, in February 1999. Peter has always worked the night shift primarily as a bath man, but he is also experienced in all other areas of the hot dip galvanizing process, having worked most roles.
Andrew Hudson
25 years ago, in February 1994, Andrew started working at Joseph Ash Chesterfield as part of a team of three in the maintenance department. Since that time the team has grown to five people and Andrew is the team manager, having been promoted to this role seven years ago.
Jackie Wright
Jackie joined the Oldbury division (Albion Galvanizers) as maternity cover for one year in March 1999. Twenty years later and she’s still with us!
After completing maternity cover, Jackie moved to Joseph Ash Telford for six years working for Fred Haycock who was the former Telford Divisional Manager. When Fred moved to Joseph Ash Bilston, Jackie worked for him there for another 12 years, and has latterly spent her 20th year working for Rob Nelson (also at Bilston). All Divisional Manager’s acknowledge that Jackie has been an invaluable asset.
Hannah Beard
Hannah joined Joseph Ash in 1999 in the commercial department at Albion Galvanizers (specialist spin galvanizing plant). Since then, Hannah has worked in a number of Commercial Management roles at Albion, at the Joseph Ash Head Office and most recently at Joseph Ash Telford. Hannah’s positive outlook and outgoing personality have resulted in her becoming well-known in the industry, forging some very important relationships with many of Joseph Ash’s customers.
Gurpal Singh
Last, but not least, Gurpal has recently celebrated a huge 35 years at Joseph Ash Walsall. Such an amazing milestone.
In 1984 Gurpal, aka Charlie, joined Joseph Ash Walsall as a Yard/Transport Supervisor and in 1999 he was promoted to Production Manager. Fast forward 11 years, and Gurpal also took on additional duties and responsibilities of Production Management at Joseph Ash Telford overseeing the production efficiencies of both plants. In 2013 Gurpal returned to Joseph Ash Walsall as Divisional Manager and began transforming the facility into a semi-automated plant. Never one to rest on his laurels, he has been busy ever since! In 2016 he spear headed the design for a vast plant extension to streamline flow and improve productivity, and in late 2018 he project managed the installation of a new galvanizing bath, and made significant improvements to the yard to improve health and safety, and storage and working area capacity.
Congratulations to everyone. Your experience and commitment are what makes Joseph Ash Galvanizing so successful!
Ray Rubenis retires from Joseph Ash after 37 years
Whilst looking on a Birmingham history chat room a few days ago we came across some text about the origins of Joseph Ash Galvanizing. One of historians in the forum stated that in the 1950s people used to queue to try and get a job at Joseph Ash Galvanizing, and once they had a foot in the door, it was a job for life with good pay and good experiences. We think this still rings true in more modern times, as we’ve just celebrated the retirement of a valued member of staff – Ray Rubenis – who has left the Company after 37 years’ service.
Ray started working at Joseph Ash Telford in 1982, starting out on the shop floor. From then on for the next 21 years, the Telford branch allowed Ray the opportunity to work his way up through Jigging to Dipping. In 2003, Ray moved to the maintenance department where he could also put his excellent fabrication skills to use. He spent another 11/12 years in this department ensuring any improvements/repairs were completed to keep the plant up and running.
In mid-2012, due to the economic situation at the time across the UK, Ray was facing redundancy. He did not want to leave the Company and he said, “the Walsall Branch came to the rescue and offered me a vacant position within their team, where I was able to work happily until my retirement”.
During Ray’s time at Joseph Ash Walsall he fabricated, repaired and completed general maintenance for the plant working with great support from a fantastic team. He said: “I worked at Joseph Ash for the best years of my life, totalling 37 years. I was extremely lucky to have found a career and home at both their sites and leave with only my best wishes to all the colleagues that I worked with during this time.”
Ray is now looking forward to spending his retirement looking after his grandchildren more often, going away with his caravan in tow whenever (and as often!) as he can, and completing all the jobs he’d been putting off over the years in his home “and of course whatever my wife would like me to do!”.
Congratulations on your retirement Ray. It’s been great having you as part of the Joseph Ash family for nearly 40 years. Enjoy your well-deserved retirement and come back and see us sometime!
First photo left to right: Osmond Crosdale (Maintenance Manager), Charlie Singh (DM Walsall), Ray Rubenis, Sukwinder Singh (Deputy Divisional Manager)
Second photo left to right: Gerry Green (Group Operations Director) and Ray Rubenis
25 years ago, in 1993, ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘The Firm’ showed at the cinema; ‘Seinfeld’, ‘Roseanne’ and ‘Murder, She Wrote’ were amongst the most popular TV shows; Meatloaf spent over a month as UK number one for ‘I’d Do Anything for Love’; and Pete Sampras and Steffi Graf won Wimbledon. Also, in this year – in Joseph Ash Galvanizing related history – Pauline Alcide joined our team!
Pauline started her career at Joseph Ash in the Head Office as a Payroll Clerk. Fast forward seven years to 2000, and she was promoted to Assistant to the Accountant. In 2003 she also took on the extra responsibility of managing the payroll for the company.
Pauline reports to Richard Hall, the Finance Director for the Joseph Ash Group, and can be seen in the photo being presented with some flowers from Steven Hopkins, Managing Director.
‘Loyal’, ‘honest’, ‘funny’ and ‘very friendly’ are the words that spring to mind when we think about Pauline, so we are lucky to have her working with us.
When Pauline isn’t working, she loves to dance, enjoying salsa nights with her husband every week.
Congratulations on reaching your 25-year anniversary Pauline! A great achievement.
Amazing achievements for three team members at Joseph Ash Galvanizing.
August 2018 marks some landmark achievements for three team members at Joseph Ash Galvanizing. Tracie Lockley, Collin Humphries and David Carling have each reached 20, 25 and 30 years respectively – an amazing 75 years between them!
Tracie Lockley – Deputy Divisional Manager, Joseph Ash Telford – celebrating 20 years
Tracie has been with Joseph Ash Galvanizing since 1998 when she joined our Birmingham division in the commercial department. Since that time Tracie has worked in various commercial roles for both Joseph Ash Galvanizing Birmingham and then Joseph Ash Telford, before opting for a change in direction by taking on the extremely challenging role of Works Manager at Telford in 2013. Having excelled in this role, Tracie is now Deputy Divisional Manager and is an essential member of the Telford team.
Collin Humphries – Galvanizing Operative, Joseph Ash Chesterfield – celebrating 25 years
Collin joined Joseph Ash Galvanizing as an agency worker in 1993. He has stayed with the company ever since and has worked most roles at the Joseph Ash Chesterfield plant from jigging, to hot dip galvanizing baths and acid. Since August 2014 he has been doing general site tidy up, and he now also gets to enjoy the company of his son, who also works at Joseph Ash Chesterfield.
David Carling – Divisional Manager, Joseph Ash Chesterfield – celebrating 30 years
David started at Joseph Ash Chesterfield in 1988 as QA and Maintenance Manager with environmental and health and safety responsibilities (for both the Chesterfield and Metnor plants). Before joining Joseph Ash he was an Engineering Manager at a foundry in Sunderland.
David became Technical Director at the Metnor plant in 2000 and in 2006 reverted to the role of Technical Manager. In 2010 he became Divisional Manager at Joseph Ash Chesterfield – a role he has had ever since.
From 1994 until 2006 David was also a part of the Galvanizers Association Technical Committee.
Congratulations Tracie, Collin and David for your long-time service achievements!
Celebrating 40 and 25 year anniversaries at Joseph Ash Galvanizing for Dalit Singh and John Eyre.
In 1978 the first test tube baby was born; the first mobile phone was introduced in Illinois; and Grease appeared at the cinema. This is the year that Dalit Singh joined Joseph Ash Galvanizing. Fast forward four decades and he is still here! What an achievement.
Dalit first started his job with Walker Brothers Galvanizing, which was taken over by Hill & Smith, Joseph Ash Galvanizing’s parent company. His first job was in Jigging Materials, and he then moved to become a Pot Man. For the past 12 years he has been a Shift Supervisor at the Joseph Ash Walsall plant.
The news doesn’t stop there though! This month we’d also like to mention John Eyre who has also reached a 25 year milestone at Joseph Ash Chesterfield. John joined our Chesterfield plant in 1993, and can do pretty much every job in the plant (including driving a fork lift truck). Since May 2017 John has been the Shift Foreman at Chesterfield.
Both men have been very loyal workers and key team members in their respective plants. Congratulations to you both!
We’re pleased to report a number of promotions and staff changes at Joseph Ash Bilston over the last few months. Please join us in congratulating Robert Nelson, the new Divisional Manager, who has been promoted from the position of Senior Technical Manager. Robert has taken over the role from Fred Haycock, who is retiring in April.
We also congratulate Lucy Foster-Bowen who became Bilston’s new Customer Service Manager in December.
Michael Worth was also promoted from Technical Manager to Senior Technical Manager; and finally Daniel Durn was promoted from Operational Support Manager at Bilston to the new Technical Manager for the whole of the Joseph Ash Group. Well done all!
Fred, we wish you well for your retirement after many, many years at Joseph Ash Galvanizing, and we’ll be sad to see you go. Best wishes for this next chapter!