Why Gestamp ’ s Ronnie loves the green , green grass of home
Aycliffe Business Make Your Mark Awards
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Sponsored by Resolution Media and Publishing
Ronnie Nicholson from Gestamp is presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Martin Walker from category sponsor and event organisers Resolution Media and Publishing .
Why Gestamp ’ s Ronnie loves the green , green grass of home
Lifetime Achievement award winner Ronnie Nicholson of Gestamp says he ’ s “ never thought the grass was greener ” during his 50-year career .
Logistics operator Ronnie was a hugely popular winner of the award , which was sponsored by Resolution Media and Publishing , who organised the 2024 Make Your Mark Awards on behalf of Aycliffe Business Park Community .
And reflecting on his career , Ronnie recalled how his Gestamp journey began when , as a fresh-faced 16-year-old , he got a job at the place his mam worked , Tallent Engineering .
“ I was working at a little builder ’ s place but after six months , it closed down ,” said Ronnie , picture with Resolution director Martin Walker .
“ At the time , my mam worked at Tallent Engineering , which is Gestamp now .
“ I went down to see her and while I was talking to her , the supervisor came over , being nosy , to see who I was . My mam introduced me to him – he said ‘ do you want a job and can you start on Monday ?’ I said ’ aye ’ and that was it – December 7 , 1974 .”
Over the years , he ’ s seen factory processes go from manual to robotic work , with automotive presses now the norm .
But even though he ’ s now 66 , he ’ s happy to keep working and learning new skills .
He said : “ You have to adapt – it ’ s part of life isn ’ t it ? People always think a robot is going to take over someone ’ s job but it doesn ’ t really – there ’ s still jobs there .
“ I ’ ve seen probably thousands of people in and out of the place , from directors right down to the factory floor .
“ I ’ ve seen the lot – but I ’ ve never thought the grass was greener . It isn ’ t always greener so why change ? And at the moment , I ’ m not ready for retirement .
“ I ’ m not one to sit about and watch daytime telly – it ’ s not me . I ’ d rather go to work and hopefully , if my health lets me , I ’ ll keep going on a bit longer . And the people I work with are brilliant – they help me along .”
FINALISTS
PHIL ATKINSON ( BTS FACADES & FABRICATIONS ) Phil was aged just 17 when he started in the façade industry , working 12-hour shifts on a press-break .
From these early days working overtime on the shop floor , he learned everything there is to know about aluminium and steel manufacturing .
Phil has been the driving force behind recent innovative steps at BTS , placing environmental , social and governance ( ESG ) best practice at the core of its business model .
As the public face of BTS , alongside finance director and wife Marcia , Phil cares deeply about the local area in which he was born and raised .
CARALINE ROBINSON ( HUSQVARNA ) Caraline holds the role of manufacturing director at Husqvarna Group ’ s flagship robotics site in Newton Aycliffe .
She is renowned as a strong , passionate and driven individual who cares for the organisation , its employees and every employee ’ s wellbeing and individual views .
Now in her 43rd year of service , Caraline is the number one advocate for encouraging people development , supporting ECT ( early career talent ), apprentices , great talent and succession planning across all levels , while developing the skills of the workforce to protect the business for the future .
24 | Aycliffe Business