Mick has been part of Yewdale for over two decades now, and during that time he’s seen the business evolve from a much smaller operation into the large-scale manufacturing and support environment it is today. As our Technical & Operations Support Manager, his role now covers a wide range of responsibilities, from transport and facilities through to technical support and product training. However, Mick’s enjoyed firsthand experience across practically all parts of the organisation!

Learning the business from the ground up

Mick joined us in 2005 as a Processor, initially focusing on Movatrack, Blackout, and Vitesse orders before later assisting with rollers and vertical blinds, too. As time went on, Yewdale’s Product Innovation Director, Garth, became increasingly involved in machinery and infrastructure work linked to the company’s move to the current Wickford premises. With more focus being placed on the site itself, there was less time available to oversee daily production operations, so Mick stepped into the Operations Manager role and took over responsibility for the day-to-day side of the business.

Covering several different positions over the years has given Mick a strong understanding of the wider operation and how closely different departments rely on one another. It’s something that shapes the way he works today, and it’s given him the skills to succeed, particularly when balancing production, transport, technical support, facilities and customer requirements.

Watching Yewdale grow

When Mick first joined Yewdale, the business looked very different to the operation customers know today. The original site was much smaller, as was the factory team itself at the time, with just nine staff working on production. Even deliveries worked differently. There was no forklift in those early days, so when larger deliveries arrived, Mick and the others would leave their desks to help the factory team unload materials. 

Production planning was equally hands-on. Schedules covered the walls of a small production office as the business worked almost round-the-clock to keep orders moving through manufacturing.

Eventually, Yewdale moved into its current premises. Mick recalls packing up the original offices before transporting everything across using a hired 7.5 tonne truck so production could continue operating with as little disruption as possible.

As the business continued growing within the new site, responsibilities inside the production office expanded as well. Alongside production planning, teams became involved in recruitment, procurement, order processing and handling non-conformances, sparking major changes. 

Supporting the next stage of growth

Today, Mick loves that his role continues evolving rapidly alongside the business itself. A large part of his current focus is centred around exciting wider operational and improvement projects, including the AP60 programme during 2025 and the P90 programme in 2026. Both of these initiatives form part of Yewdale’s ongoing and continued investment into the future of the business and operations. 

Alongside those larger projects, Mick still remains closely involved in the practical day-to-day side of the business. That balance between long-term operational development and hands-on, everyday technical support reflects the unique experience he’s gained throughout his time at Yewdale.

Having worked through so many stages of the company’s growth, right through from those early days, Mick has become an important part of the wider operation and is someone with a genuine understanding of where the business started – and where it’s going next.