Q1. How long have you been at Northpoint? Tell us a bit about your experience. What was your original job title? How has Northpoint helped you to progress in your career.
I started work for Northpoint Powder Coating Ltd which eventually became Northpoint Limited in 1982 as a delivery driver, my background until then was a Fully Skilled Diesel Mechanic. Northpoint grew very quickly and so did the opportunities within the company. From driving I became Transport Manager and then went into the Production side of the business later becoming Production Director. Powder Coating was rapidly taking over from wet paint systems and as such various markets were growing year on year. Moving into production was absolutely the right thing to do for my career, it not only gives you a total insight into your company’s credentials and drives you on to achieve greater job satisfaction.
Q2. What is your role and what does it involve?
My role now is Managing Director and involves the day to day running of the business, dealing with customers and suppliers, making Capital Expenditure decisions on plant acquisitions, bringing in new business that is commercially right for Northpoint and constantly striving to achieve the best quality and service for our customers.
Q3. What is your favourite part of your job?
Strong relationships are built up over the years with suppliers and customers and when visiting or receiving them that can be rewarding. Seeing how the personnel that have been at Northpoint for many years and who have progressed to positions of leadership and directorship brings great satisfaction, but I don’t have any particular favourite.
Q4. What are the main challenges?
The main challenges for Northpoint I suppose are like any other company in this day and age. Over the last 3 years it’s been all about getting through Covid and being here at the end of it all, but there have also been the challenges over the last couple of years of rising Energy costs, raw material and shipping costs etc. Currently we have more threats coming from the overseas infiltration of cheaper products which in time can make certain markets a race to the bottom. Constant changes to Environmental, Legislation and Health & Safety are all challenges in themselves and areas of the business which we are always being pro-active in.
Q5. What makes Northpoint a good place to work?
Northpoint prides themselves in giving work opportunities to all nationalities and we have a very cosmopolitan group of staff not only on the shopfloor but in the offices as well. The office staff are a vital cog in the wheel when dealing with customers and suppliers and the relationships that have been struck up over the years is extremely encouraging to see. We try to recruit from within when leadership and management roles on the shopfloor are required and we actively encourage all staff to progress through the various levels of skill set required. Continuity of staff is important to us and even though we have to employ a percentage of temp labour we try our best to get them from temp to perm if they show the right credentials in the shortest time.
Q6. How have you seen the business grow over the years? In your opinion, what is the key to Northpoint’s growth? How has the company changed over the years?
The company started in Stockport in 1976 and after 3 location/site moves have resided in Dukinfield for the last 33 years. Northpoint’s growth has been born out of wanting to be the biggest and the best in our profession, not only in how much capacity we are capable of coating but the quality of product we put out in the marketplace. Our quality is renowned in the industry because we do not compromise on surface preparation which is the absolute key in applying Anti-Corrosive coatings. Not only that the staff on the shopfloor and in the offices have bought into the fabric of the company and taken on what our values are all about. Many of these staff have worked along side me over the last 30+ years and without them Northpoint Limited would not the company it is today with the reputation it carries. Those people know who they are!
Q7. Northpoint understands quality assurance is the key to their customers. What impact do you think quality has for Northpoint. How do you make your clients feel confident in your work.
Quality is a given in this day and age and as I have mentioned before the rising costs on the business especially pre-treatment chemicals have a big impact on the company in continuing to achieve that goal. We constantly monitor new technology not only to comply with “Greener “issues but to achieve the best technology in surface preparation. We always discuss with our customers when we feel it necessary, the systems needed for application when coating Marine, High Humidity and Onerous locations, so they understand the spec that is being applied and more importantly why it’s that spec to achieve the “Life Expectancies “they require.
Q8. What do you believe separates Northpoint from its competitors?
As I have just mentioned we talk to our customers all the time, it’s basically striking up Partnerships, giving them the best service, quality in the market and achieving that consistently. We encourage them to come and see what we do for them, to understand the process of powder coating and Anti- Corrosive coatings, to put faces to the team of people they are emailing or talking to on a regular basis. To put it simply we have worked very hard over the years to be the best in what we do, to raise the bar, to move the goal posts and to never rest on our laurels. The group of staff at the top table have been here years and have really bought into the standards and principles that have been set which gives me upmost confidence in the future and longevity of the company going forwards.
Q9. Where do you see Northpoint in 5 years’ time?
It is Northpoint’s 50th Anniversary two years from now (2026) and it will give me immense pride and admiration for the company to achieve that milestone. We have constantly evolved over the years and will continue to do so, not only in plant and machinery but the diversity of products we coat. The Oil, Gas and Water side of the business is growing each year which is extremely encouraging to see, where Fencing has been the volume side of the business, it’s vital to get the lower volume but higher margin side of the business functioning consistently.
This is the area of the business that’s key in future-proofing us going forwards when striking up Partnerships with potential and existing customers and when specifying multi layered coatings which tie us in to being their Approved Applicator.
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