People Profile – Steve Hague
We’re not just paying lip-service when we say Beldam Crossley’s people are part of a family, although that’s more literal for some than others!
Take Steve Hague, our Die Pressed Rings team leader, in charge of our braiding department and warehousing. He’s known as ‘Mr Beldam Crossley’ for a reason. He’s been with us for 42 years and there’s very little that’s gone on here during that time that Steve doesn’t know about.
But not just that – there’s also ‘Mrs Beldam Crossley’ as his wife Gail has worked at the firm for most of her career and three of their five children have had jobs here during their university years.
About Steve
Steve joined the business in 1982 when it was BP Oil-owned Henry Crossley, and he remembers quite a different culture. “There was a full-time chauffeur parked outside the front door, ready to take the directors out or pick up guests. Can you imagine that now?”
But for all the changes over the last four decades, he knows what has not waivered – Beldam Crossley’s commitment to quality British manufacturing, and that’s something he’s proud to be a part of: “We’re now the only manufacturer of braided packing in the UK. You might be able to buy cheaper from India or China but is it as good? Would you get the same technical back-up if you need it? I don’t think so.”
He’s also proud of the production team he supervises: “No one can call them unskilled workers, they are marvellous at what they do.”
Looking back on 42 years, Steve believes the company is stronger than ever. “Our directors are giving us a feeling of good will. The firm has got strong values and money going into new equipment. Our sports and social club is brilliant – 29 of us went 10-pin bowling last week. It’s a modern company but we’ve not lost the family feel.”