Polypipe has come of age!
Driving along Boston Road, they spotted a factory building, one of the first on the town’s new industrial estate,
At the time, John was the production manager at Norflex, a Northumberland based company specialising in UPVC land drainage systems.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThe company was looking for a new site, somewhere along the ‘A1 corridor’ and ideally between Gainsborough and Stamford.
John was ‘sold’ on Horncastle...even if the site was worryingly close to his in-laws!
“The estate was just starting up, “ explains John. “We were the second company to move onto it. Morton’s were the first.
“There were nine employees when we started, me included.”
That was 40 years ago.
In 1994, the company moved onto a new site, again on the industrial estate.
That site covered six acres (32,000 sq ft).
Two years later, the company was ‘bought out’ by Polypipe.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdToday, the site covers 29 acres (160,000 sq ft) and is Horncastle’s biggest employer with a 310-strong workforce.
From little acorns and all that...an amazing success story.
A wry smile lights John’s face as he recalls: “When we started, it never ever crossed my mind that we’d be where we are today.
“At the time, the MD (of Norflex) was Richard Beck.
“We were looking for a site and I managed to convince him Horncastle was perfect.
“I know it sounds daft really, but everything has just happened since then.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“We were fortunate when we started because the Government was giving grants to farmers for land drainage.
“Lincolnshire was pretty much untapped for plastic drains - it was all clay titles.
“The site in Northumberland wasn’t performing that well, and I suggested we should bring a machine down here and base it at Horncastle.
“At the time, we also had sites in Glasgow and Wales,
“Gradually we got rid of them all and brought everything to Horncastle.”
The rest, as they say, is history.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdWith typical modesty, John, now Operations Director, underplays his own role in a story which is so important to the area’s economy.
His drive, determination and passion have inspired many - and persuaded company bosses - to invest in Horncastle.
He adds: “The company has been really supportive of this site and the level of investment has obviously made a huge difference.”
Walking around the factory with John (he’s handing out 40th birthday cupcakes) he’s on first name terms with just about every employee.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdThere again, many have been with him for more than 30 years.
“We’ve grown up together,” says John. “They’re as much a part of this place as I am.
“Myself and some of the guys on the shopfloor, we don’t realise how big it is now.
“We’ve just grown with it.
“Someone like yourself, who’s come onto the site for the first time, is probably surprised by how big it is - and all the equipment - whereas we just think: ‘It is what it is.’”
John is quick to praise the commitment of the workforce.
“I have to thank them,” he says.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“I would like to think we (Polypipe) have put Horncastle on the map.
“What’s happened has to be a positive thing for the town and the area.
“For example, we run a fleet of 34 lorries.
“They all need maintaining and we use a local sub-contractor.
“New employees come to live here..they buy houses...
“I’m proud of what we’ve achieved.”
John can still recall the first employee - Alwyne Seabourne. He retired last year after 39 years.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement