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 22. 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
Williams is one of the leading manufacturers of commercial refrigeration for the foodservice, bakery, medical and pharmaceutical industries. The company’s main UK manufacturing is in Kings Lynn. Williams has manufacturing sites in China and Australia, too, and sales facilities around the world. The company also has regional contracting units supporting customers throughout the UK, in Edinburgh, Doncaster, Maidstone and Basingstoke.
Williams Refrigeration offers a comprehensive range of commercial refrigeration including gastronorm cabinets and counters, specialist bakery equipment, coldrooms, multidecks and blast chillers.
