We welcome three new hires into the fold
We have welcomed three new recruits to the Herbert Walkers team, as we prepare for more growth following out £3 million investment in new equipment and improved facilities.
Two of the new appointments are trainee positions, providing a first step on the career ladder for our young recruits, while the third ‘new’ member of the team is returning to Herbert Walkers after a 15 year tenure with one of our customers.
A-Level leaver, William Eastell, will follow a long tradition of developing new talent at Herbert Walkers as a management trainee. It’s a position that has seen many local youngsters flourish at Herbert Walkers over the years, with current sales director, Andy Christie, also starting in this role more than 30 years ago!
A former Woodhouse Grove student, Will will follow our established trainee pathway, which provides a complete grounding in the specialist skills and commercial understanding required for a career in the printing industry.
Will is joined in a trainee role by Anthony Christie, who has been appointed to the role of trainee sales executive. After studying maths and accounting at Newcastle University, Anthony was looking for a people-focused career. He will be responsible for working with existing clients on new projects and developing new client partnerships. His induction has seen him experience every department of the business, and begin to attend client meetings from week one, ensuring he can learn about the company’s service-driven approach. True to our roots as 75-year-old family business, we’re keeping it in the family with Anthony’s appointment and he will be mentored by his sales director uncle, Andy Christie!
Returning to the company after 15 years, Darren Thornton joins us as a customer service & account Manager. Darren originally joined the business as a school leaver and rose through the ranks thanks to our management trainee programme. Working for a customer in the interim, Darren brings excellent technical knowledge to his new role along with a unique insight into the customer’s service and commercial requirements after years of working client-side. In his new role, he is responsible for managing a team of account managers that liaise with both customers and the production department to ensure projects are achieved on time to the highest standards.
The three new hires follow our £3 million investment in our production facilities with new equipment to enhance both capacity and efficiency. Improvements to our buildings and energy monitoring have also formed part of this investment, which has been focused on driving efficiency, extending capacity, reducing operational costs and enhancing sustainability.
Managing Director, Mike Lammas commented: “Throughout Herbert Walkers’ 75-year history, the company has been committed to nurturing talent and creating opportunities to put local people on a rewarding career path. Hiring Will and Anthony continues this tradition and, despite the changes in the sector and the world since Darren first joined us, the fact that he has chosen to come back to Herbert Walkers proves that we are still a sought after employer and still offering roles that offer individuals a chance to shine.
“We’re delighted to welcome all three new recruits to Herbert Walkers at a very exciting for the company and wish them every success in their new roles as we continue to grow.”
