Former apprentice turned Businessperson of the Year is urging his neighbours to enter 2025 Make Your Mark Awards
INSPIRING SUCCESS
PICTURES : CHRIS BOOTH
Aycliffe Business editor Martin Walker talks to Make Your Mark double winner Andy Reed
He ’ s a former apprentice who worked his way to the top – now he has a master ’ s degree in psychology and is managing director of Aycliffe Company of the Year , Senstronics .
Andy Reed embodies the philosophy of steady growth , relentless self-improvement and genuine care for people .
Balancing his professional achievements with a vibrant personal life , the 49-year-old ’ s journey is as inspiring as the company he leads .
A proud resident of Cramlington , Andy shares his home with wife Kerry and cherishes family moments with their 19-year-old daughter , Ellise .
Currently settling into university life in Newcastle , Ellise is testing her wings while staying within reach of home – a dynamic Andy fully supports .
Andy is the kind of person who thrives on structure and discipline . He starts his day at 6am with a vigorous gym session , a routine he ’ s maintained for years .
“ It sets you up for the day ,” he remarks , emphasising how these early starts , combined with a smooth commute , prepare him for the day ahead . Outside work , Andy loves the simple joys of life – cinema outings , quality time with family and a penchant for South Australian Shiraz , a vice he humorously admits to indulging in a little too often .
Andy ’ s career trajectory is a testament to perseverance and lifelong learning .
Beginning as an electrical mechanical apprentice at Nestlé , he climbed the ladder with determination , taking every opportunity to upskill .
“ I started as an apprentice , right at the bottom , with my foot on the ladder ,” he recalls .
“ Over the years , I progressed to team leader , then engineer , while attending college throughout my apprenticeship .
“ After completing my bachelor ’ s and master ’ s degree in engineering , I moved into maintenance management , which marked the start of my leadership journey .”
From there , Andy ’ s career flourished . He held roles as operations manager , CI and quality manager and plant manager , eventually stepping into operations and supply chain director .
His journey included stints in diverse industries , from pharmaceuticals to oil and gas , and a 12-year tenure with Avery Dennison , where he honed his expertise in global supply chains .
A four-year chapter in continuous improvement , business transformation and leadership consulting allowed Andy to see the broader picture of industry demands while completing a master ’ s degree in business psychology .
“ I ’ m really interested in developing people ,” he says , a passion that now fuels his leadership at Senstronics .
Andy ’ s decision to join Senstronics was deeply personal .
The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 19