Editor: Andy, tell us a little about your background and how you came to work on the Technical Services team?
AM: “I actually started off in retail, but I wasn’t enjoying it, so a friend encouraged me to move into manufacturing, and I haven’t looked back.
“I worked for a foam manufacturer for 20 years, in various roles, such as production, development and quality control, before being made redundant. Then, the world of flooring was opened up to me at a resin flooring and screeds manufacturer. I held a number of positions during my nine years there, including product development, as well as working with customers, supporting them on their jobs, sometimes for a week at a time. All of which provided a very strong foundation of knowledge and experience for when I came to F. Ball.”
Ed: What sort of things do you get up to day-to-day in your role? What have you been up to today, for example?
AM: “The role is mainly office based and includes taking calls from contractors, as and when they come through, during working hours. There’s also a lot of reports to write on the back of site visits by F. Ball technical representatives, which detail the recommended course of action and products to use.
“Today, so far, I’ve answered around 20 phone calls and have written three reports – the contractors like to keep us busy!”
Ed: Are there any common issues that keep cropping up when you’re speaking with contractors?
AM: “Calcium sulphate screeds prove to be one of the biggest headaches for contractors – sometimes they don’t realise when they’re working with one. They can present a lot of issues, including taking months to dry, depending on their thickness. It’s our job to guide contractors through what to do in these circumstances.”
Ed: What do you enjoy most about your job?
AM: “For me, it’s the satisfaction of being able to take a call from someone and be able to resolve an issue, no matter how simple or tricky it may be. We’re here to make life easy for contractors.”
Ed: Tell us, what’s your favourite F. Ball product?
AM: “I have two: Stopgap 1200 Pro and Stopgap F77.
“If you’ve got an uneven floor and damp issues, Stopgap 1200 Pro is fantastic as it’s a versatile levelling compound and can be used in conjunction with Stopgap F77 waterproof surface membrane. Depending on the environment you can level the floor with Stopgap 1200 Pro, apply Stopgap F77 and, once cured, use another application of the levelling compound. Sorted.”
Ed: What were your career aspirations when you were growing up?
AM: “Many things: one minute I wanted to be a firefighter, the next: flying in the air force or driving a racing car.”
Ed: And what do you get up to in your spare time?
AM: “I enjoy outdoor stuff, including walking, cycling and kayaking. And it’ll come as no surprise that I also have a passion for motor sports, particularly stock car racing.”