16 | FEBRUARY 2021
Director of the Month
Read online at www . proinstaller . co . uk
FROM SHOWROOM TO STABLE
Steve Hudson is Managing Director of Alutech Systems , the UK arm of one of the largest aluminium extruders in the world . Here he speaks to Pro Installer about his working day – sometimes in the showroom sometimes in the stable – and finding solitude ‘ far from the maddening crowd ’…
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When did you start the company ?
I had been running JDUK , the garage door arm of Alutech for many years when in 2016 the owner of Alutech in Belarus challenged me to get into the Systems side of aluminium – despite knowing next to nothing about systems at the time . I knew with a mixture of our teams skills and ethos , along with support from Alutech in Belarus we could do it and here we are .
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What websites help you ?
Sorry to say it but in these times Amazon ; I ’ m keeping away from shops and people as much as possible - normally I love to support out local shops in Nantwich - thankfully still a lovely thriving town .
Describe your working day
I think it ’ s safe to say no one ’ s working day has been the same in a year now - but I do think my job must be the best in the world , because it ’ s not really a job . I spend most of my days on the phone . I am very lucky to have build an incredibly talented team around me that do most of the work , all better than me at what they do . I am here for guidance and of course coming up with ideas for them to pick up and run with !
First thing you do when you get to your desk ?
Enjoy my coffee . Then get started on talking to colleagues for the rest of the day .
What is your workspace like ?
At our head office in Dewsbury , I don ’ t actually have an office . Generally , I meet colleagues in their work space or in the show room if it ’ s a client I am meeting . At home I have a converted stable in the garden , mainly just to get away from the marauding teenagers still at home .
Most useful business tool ?
My most trusted and well used business tool , would have to be my earphones . Spending all day on the phone means I can walk around without holding the phone to my ear . They have the added bonus of using the noise cancelling function to get peace and quiet from the teenagers in the evening too .
Best business decision in your current role ?
One this year was giving our residential and commercial departments each their own voice . It ’ s a very different route to market and the support needed in each sector differs . Our residential arm was experiencing rapid growth , so we have opened up a showroom facility and sales office specifically for the commercial team to help grow their market specifically .
Favourite role models and why ?
I don ’ t really have role models as such , I fill my life with like minded people with some ‘ go ’ about them and feed off them . I would say that my other half is a head teacher , which is an incredibly challenging job and I take my hat off to her !
How do you unwind ?
It depends on the season – in the summer when I get home , I like to sit on the lawnmower with a beer deciding what to BBQ for dinner . In winter , we find some solitude away from the crowds ; walking the dog .
alutechsystems . co . uk