Andy Wilson joins the team as New Business Development Engineer and shares his aspirations for the future:
“In 1995 I left Leeds College of Technology with no real idea about what I wanted to do next. I walked into the job centre and picked up a card for a refrigeration apprenticeship and thought “yeah, I’ll give that a go!”
That day marked the beginning of my career in HVACR, and the beginning of my relationship with Penmann. I loved my time there as an apprentice and was driven from that point onwards. I often worked weekends around the country installing refrigeration pipe work at food manufacturing facilities, many of which I am pleased to say are still customers of Penmann to this day! I was sorry to leave when I was made redundant in 1997 due to a change in the direction of the company.
Despite my sadness at being made redundant, my time with Penmann gave me so much; a fantastic foundation in the industry, the chance to work for a true family-run Yorkshire company and a thirst to learn more, do more and progress in the industry. I’ve honestly never looked back since, and after developing my knowledge and technical ability with companies such as Trane and Johnson Controls, I’m delighted to be involved with Penmann again some 25 years later, and excited to develop further and learn more from industry-leaders Damian, John and the team.
The future feels bright at Penmann. I’m enthused by the appetite of the company to grow organically, and heartened by the company ethos and strategy which involves everyone, and means that the whole company is on board and ready for what is to come.
My experience working for international HVAC businesses has taught me how to work collaboratively and use my ability to think critically and in a solution-focused way, to tailor the right solution for the customer. My own personal ethic is to always remain customer-centric in my approach. This is borne out by my track record in “end-user” account management and sales. For me, it’s all about the relationship and the trust comes from listening and really hearing what the customer is saying, and then using my technical knowledge and skill to develop the best solution.
Penmann’s internal structure of having their own in-house design and project management team affords me the opportunity to concentrate on what I’m best at. Penmann is structured in such a way that every role within the team is fulfilled by an expert in that particular area, meaning that the quality of the solution for the customer is second to none. Everything about Penmann is attention to detail.
I’m a Leeds lad through and through, from an upbringing in Guiseley to my life-long support of Leeds Utd. I feel proud to be part of a Yorkshire company that is a national leader in the industry.
Home life is busy. With 4 teenagers my wife and I have our hands full, but we are also enjoying some of the freedoms that come as children inevitably become more independent. I’ve always had a keen interest in staying fit through the gym and cycling in particular. The last two years has seen me take that to another level, having now completed 2 Ultra Marathons. As the country opens up again and things look brighter ahead, I hope to be able to take on more challenges like this”.
