Clearview National September 2019 - Issue 214 | Page 28

DIRECTOROFTHEMONTH
A design for life
(at Ultraframe)
Design & Development Director
Andrew Thomson talks life after
Dyson, open plan working and being
part of the Ribble rabble…
When did you join (or
start) the company?
I joined Ultraframe in 2004
when the company was still a PLC.
Prior to this, I joined the Royal
Navy as an Engineering officer
at 18 and was lucky to be sent
to University by them. My first
Design job was at Dyson just as
the company was starting.
Describe your working day...
I’m based at our offices in
Clitheroe and am lucky that it’s
only a short cycle ride from home
(weather permitting). I like to be
at work before 8am.
The offices are open plan which
encourages interaction between
the team – something I’m a big
fan of. I believe that the best
ideas are those where the germ
is developed through differing
viewpoints.
I have three main avenues for
work, supporting members of my
team, helping with the running of
the business as a director, and my
own work.
I also try and involve myself as
much as possible with customers.
Not only the business owners
but also the guys on the ground
who are hands-on with our
system, installing roofs every day.
Some days I will be in my scruffs,
tools in hand working alongside
these installers, seeing the
problems they face, and breaking
down the barriers so they tell me
what they really think. I can share
the insight these people give me
to challenge the designs we come
up with.
Throughout the day there will
be meetings to coordinate the
activities required to introduce
the new products in the pipeline.
Being a systems company
means that the product is never
complete - there are always new
examples of how customers want
to use our products and we have
to steer a course that will deliver
a successful outcome, but there
are often debates about the best
way. My team is good at arguing
our views and promoting our
ideas but also recognising those
of others. I’m proud to have
an industry-leading team with
a mixture of very experienced
engineers and fresh young
graduates and apprentices, and
I like to think they have a good
range of skills to help complement
each other.
‘It’s a great facility
and allows us to
bring our ideas to
life, then test them
and see if they
are any good’
What is your
workspace like?
I do have an office but I am
more often sat at the desk of one
of my team. I also have a dedicated
area in the factory to build
prototypes. It’s a great facility and
allows us to bring our ideas to life,
then test them and see if they are
any good.
28 » SE P 2019 » CL EARVI E W- UK . C O M
First thing you do when
you get to your desk?
When I arrive I dedicate myself
to the team, helping them break
through problems they are facing,
guiding them in the right direction,
and checking the quality of output.
There is always a balance to be
had between distracting people
who are trying to get work done
and getting useful involvement but
we get the balance right – most of
the time!
I also catch up with members
of the team to discuss the ideas
I leave on their desk at the end
of my working day to see how
these can be progressed and
developed.
What websites help you?
theengineer.co.uk – a fantastic
source of news and information
for anyone in a technical role such
as mine.
Most useful business tool?
The Strava app on my iPhone
is the one I use the most to track
my cycling.
‘I have the
ongoing project
of building my
own house which
keeps me busy’
Best business decision
in your current role?
Sticking with Ultraframe even
through the rough times. We
have now seen consistent growth
over the past five years, despite a
difficult market.
Favourite role
models and why?
James Dyson. I was part of
the small team responsible for
the design of Dyson’s first ever
cylinder vacuum, the DC-02
and found James’ creativity and
technical ability inspirational.
How do you unwind?
I love cycling to unwind and
also have the ongoing project of
building my own house which
keeps me busy. I’m also lucky to
have some fantastic eateries on
my doorstep here in the Ribble
Valley.