Decades of dedication

In today's fast-paced, ever-evolving job market, where career changes and job-hopping are increasingly the norm, long service at work stands as a remarkable testament to dedication, resilience, and loyalty. Long servers have weathered the storms, adapted to changes, and consistently contributed to the growth and culture of their workplace over many years. Their dedication and experience are invaluable assets that deserve recognition and celebration. 

We recently met with one of Chemring’s longest servers, Jim, Business Development Executive at Chemring Energetics UK. Jim has been with the business for forty-seven years, and we talked to him about his extensive career and what he’s learned along the way.  

“I joined the Ardeer site in Scotland in 1977, straight out of school. At the time, it was owned by ICI and was the main employer for the three towns in this region. My mum, dad, and grandfather all worked at the site, and I even met my wife at work, as she had worked there for fifteen years. That sense of family and community has been very strong over the years.  

“I started as an apprentice maintenance fitter. At that time, the company took on around forty apprentices a year and, at its peak, the site employed around 14,000 people. I trained for four years as part of my apprenticeship and was then taken on as a semi-skilled propellants turner, working alongside my dad, a general operator at the time.  I did that role for twenty-two years.

“Over the years, ICI started to downsize its operations, and at the time, we thought the site might end up closing down. So, it’s fantastic to see it thriving today under Chemring’s ownership. I then moved to the R&D team as an Engineering & Technical Technician. It was the same time as the Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapon (NLAW) system had just been designed. I was responsible for building test samples, recording data, and training the operators.  

Opportunity knocks 

“Chemring took over the business in 2005, and the General Manager at the time noticed my drive and enthusiasm and offered me a role as a project manager. He was very good at developing people and gave me six months to grow into the role. Most of the new high explosive products had to be qualified, and my role was to project manage those qualifications. This role involved extensive travel around Europe, which was a new experience for me, and I loved it. 

“My next role change opportunity came along when a Production Manager job became available. At the time, we had four major plants on site – High Explosives, Primary Explosives, Propellants and Devices. The available Production Manager role was in Devices, and I was delighted when I applied for the job and got it. I stayed in this role for four or five years, and it was a very proud moment for me to be in operational management, having started on the shop floor.”  

“Despite enjoying being back in the operation, I really missed the travel, and that led me to apply for the role I’m in today as a Business Development Executive. I cover the Far East, Middle East and UK military customers, mainly looking after large defence companies. I started out with the Middle East, building relationships across Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar. 

“I travelled to some amazing places and built great relationships, many of whom have become real friends, not just colleagues. This role is all about relationship building and having a thorough knowledge of our products. My background in operations, starting as an apprentice, has given me a fantastic technical understanding of our products and is what led me to where I am today.