Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
East Midlands independent plumbing and heating merchant and bathroom retailer Pochin has marked 150 years in business with a celebration where 20 staff were given long service awards.
21 people – managing director David Pochin among them – have clocked up a combined 500 years with the firm.
The sixth generation to run the firm, Pochin said: “We are a business built on great service by deeply knowledgeable people who care about our customers’ experience of us. So it is no surprise to me just how many of our staff have been with us for 15 years or more.
“To congratulate 20 colleagues on each having worked with the business for so long is hugely gratifying as an employer. I also hope it is very encouraging to our newer recruits, who can see how they can have a long and prosperous future with Pochin.”
The long service awards were presented at a celebration dinner at Leicester’s Marriott Hotel. Almost all Pochin’s 70 staff attended, from the trade counters and showrooms in Leicestershire, Rutland and Derbyshire and the head office at Murrayfield Road.
The longest service award was presented to trade salesman Jenty Mistry, for an incredible 35 years. He was closely followed by warehouse operative Robert MacDonald (34 years), showroom sales adviser Mark Swinford (32) and trade salesman Steve Oliver (30).
The other awards were for: Dean R Smith (27), Stuart Press (27), Rob Clarke (26), Kevin Molloy (25), Simon Froggatt (25), Manu Patel (23), Alex Shipley (22), Dave Harrison (22), Nick Hewes (22), Dave Jarvis (21), Carl Palmer (18), Jeff Barratt (18), Donna Oliver (17), Linda Kirman (16), Dean W Smith (16) and Steve Newbutt (15).
