Celebratory lunch and awards commemorate 210 years’ service!
Williams Refrigeration, the manufacturer based in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, honoured some of the company’s longest serving employees with awards and a celebratory lunch on August 22nd. All ten of them have been with the company for at least two decades and, between them, they have racked up an impressive 210 years of service!
At a time when staff retention is a huge issue for many companies, what’s Williams’ secret? Purchasing manager Robert Smith, who has been with the company for 30 years, reckons it’s a mix of several factors. “The trust to be allowed to make a vital decision, the support, the fast pace, and how Williams is always moving,” he says, adding, “I never get bored, it always challenges me!”
Steve Leslie, managing director at Williams Refrigeration in Scotland, is receiving an award for 20 years’ service. He reckons that staff staying a long time is itself a factor in retention. “Their experience means they know exactly what’s required, which makes life much easier for everyone,” he says. “The team are a great bunch and make my working life enjoyable.”
Robert says that the biggest change over the years has been technology, and Ian Wiggins (20 years’ service), production operative at Williams’ plant in King’s Lynn, agrees, adding, “The products we make are more environmentally friendly now, which is a great thing. There’ve also been big advances in health and safety.”
Tim Smith is managing director of Williams Refrigeration. “We have a wonderful record of long serving staff,” he says. “Each year we honour the ones who make these milestones, and each year I’m humbled by their commitment and loyalty. I’m proud of the whole team we have here, every single one contributes to our success.”
The ten award winners are:
30 years
Robert Smith, purchasing manager, King’s Lynn
20 years
Darren Hall, technician, King’s Lynn
Michael Steward, stores operative, King’s Lynn
Ian Wiggins, production operative, King’s Lynn
Lynette Wixey, purchase ledger supervisor, King’s Lynn
Paul Mason, production operative, King’s Lynn
Lee White, senior refrigeration design engineer, King’s Lynn
David Hayton, warehouse operative, Central Contracting Unit, Doncaster
Stephen Leslie, managing director, Scotland Contracting Unit, Edinburgh
Steve Langford, sales project manager, Southern Contracting Unit, Maidenhead