This year we’re celebrating 50 years in business and we’ve worked hard over that time to maintain Filtermist’s family feel. So much so, we have a number of fathers among our workforce who have inspired their sons to follow in their footsteps and join the company too.
Ahead of Fathers’ Day in the UK on Sunday, June 16th, father and son team Ian and Craig Woodward who both work in the UK sales team have been reflecting on the changes they’ve seen in the time they’ve been with the company, as well as what it’s like to work with your family.
Director of Group UK Sales Ian Woodward first joined in the company in 1999 – since 2015 he has worked with his son Craig, our Filtermist UK Sales Manager.
Ian began his time with us in our offices in Bridgnorth before we moved to the Telford headquarters four years ago – and has also seen many technological changes like the introduction of new machine tools, high pressure coolants and more recently 3D printing.
The opportunity to travel extensively has also given him a different perspective and management styles, with ‘the ability to see things in a more rounded fashion’ as well as knowledge about motivating his team and getting the best out of them.
He says: “I was supposed to retire and I haven’t yet, I just love it here. I’m privileged to have been given the opportunity to work here and see the changes over 20 years. There have been massive changes, even just in the last five years. Over the last 50 years, we’ve not only built units and been very successful at selling them, but also built a reputation for aftersales support.
“I don’t think I ever thought Craig would join the company I worked at. His promotion to Filtermist UK Sales Manager is testament to how well he’s done – he sold the UK sales target by himself last year which is a massive achievement, and set the record for the largest number of units sold to a customer in one order. These are the things you hope your children can achieve – he’s achieved them and more, so I’m really pleased for him.”
Craig says he was inspired by his father’s enjoyment of working at Filtermist: “Ian is a massive inspiration in what he has achieved and is always on hand to give advice. Because he’s my dad, I can still pick on him for advice when he leaves, but when he does eventually retire it’ll be a great loss to the business. That’s not just me saying that because he’s my father, I think he’s a true inspiration to a lot of people here.
“I never call him dad in the office, I call him Ian. Work life and personal life are different. If I stepped out of line, I would expect to be treated in the same way as everyone else; I just try not to step out of line!
“It doesn’t feel like work, because we enjoy what we do. I love what I do and I’ve got a great mentor.”
The full interview can be found on our SoundCloud page, click here to listen.