Meet the Distributor – Jon Churchley, HellermannTyton
Read Time: 3 Mins | 29 July 2020
Meet Jon Churchley, Site Director of HellermannTyton UK
In the first of our new series of Starrett dealer spotlight blogs, we would like to introduce you to Jon Churchley,Site Director of leading cable management manufacturing powerhouse, HellermannTyton.Jon is based at their UK distribution centre in Cannock, Staffordshire.
Having operated in the UK for over 83 years, HellermannTyton has established threeUK manufacturing sites in Manchester, Plymouth and Northampton, together with distribution centres in Staffordshire, Northern and Southern Ireland, employing over 500 people in the UK alone.
The company who operate globally is a major manufacturer of products for the transport, electrical and network connectivity industries, with their mission to develop effective solutions for all cable management requirements. As a global brand, they are trusted by industry professionals worldwide, built on a reputation of quality, with customer satisfaction their first priority.
Jon, tell me a bit about yourself.
I live in Burntwood, a suburban and former mining town in Staffordshire, England, which is aroundfive miles away from our UK distribution centre in Cannock, whereI’m based.
I have two teenage boys, who keep me very occupied outside of work and my two main interests are music and sport. In particular, I love football and I support West Bromwich Albion, plus I enjoy playing cricket and squash – I’m still just about able to get around the court!
Tell us about your job and your role within the company?
I work for HellermannTyton and have been with the company for over 30 years now. I currently hold the position ofSite Director and as part of this role, I am responsible for customer service, logistics, inventory planning, plus managing teams and commercial activities with both suppliers and customers.
In the three decades I’ve been with the company, I’ve held a few positions including Sales Office Manager, Business Development Manager and Commercial Manager.
What’s your favourite aspect of the job and what do you enjoy the least?
My favourite thing is watchingour team and business flourish, from seeing people develop to the company growing and new business coming in.It is always a pleasure to know that you’ve played your part in it.
On the other hand,dealing with the current pandemic and responding to the economic recovery required is something I never expected. For thecountry and business community as a whole, I believe it’s the most challenging time we’ll ever have to deal with.
Is there one person alive or dead,who you would love to talk with or meet?
The legend, that is English singer-songwriter, Paul Weller who achieved fame in The Jam, before establishing himself as a solo artist.I’d love to chat with him about his music, his styles and what drives him to constantly stay current and influence many younger artists.
Do you DIY yourself?
No,it’s not for me – I’m happy to leave DIY projects to those people who can.
What is your favourite tool and why?
My favourite Starrett tool would have to be the 20mm Bi-Metal Holesaw (FCH2532), as we must have sold well over a million of these saws in the many years we have been in partnership with Starrett.
Tell us about your relationship with Starrett.
I have been dealing with Starrett most of my working life, as a fellow UK manufacturer.At HellermannTyton we are proud to be Starrett’s exclusive distributor into the electrical wholesale market.The synergies with Starrett products and our own,provide a fantastic offering for our customers.
Would you recommend Starrett to a friend or colleague?
Absolutely, the service from the Starrett team and the care they take to look after our requirements is firstclass, over the years we have also made many friendships.
Tell us more about the type of tools your company stock?
We manufacture and distribute a variety of products, as well as Starrett, one examplebeing our large offering of cable pulling tools, called Cablescout. We are also one of the world’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of cable ties, and the only company in Europe manufacturing them.
In Plymouth our expertise is in extrusion products in the main, including heat shrink shapes, cable protection and insulation products. In Manchester we specialise in injection moulding with fastening and fixings at our heart. While our factory in Northampton focuses on the manufacture of data networking products.
What challenges do you think lie ahead for the industry and what do you think can be done to overcome these?
The recovery from the pandemic will be a huge challenge. I believe finding a new way of operating and selling must be adopted swiftly and safely.
