EMPLOYEES with almost 4,000 years of combined service to JCB have been honoured by the company with gifts and a celebration lunch.
The awards were presented to more than 170 employees who were marking 20, 40 and 45 year service milestones based on employment which commenced in 1971, 1976 and 1996. Two special lunches for the long-serving UK-based employees were held at the World HQ in Rocester when the gifts were presented.
JCB Chief Operating Officer Mark Turner said: “Our employees are the reason why JCB is successful. JCB could not have developed around the world without the people the company is honouring for long service.”
Among those being honoured was Dave Slaney, 61, who was one of two employees marking 45 years’ service. Dave, of Uttoxeter, joined the company on August 9th, 1971 – when JCB made just 3,500 machines a year and when Apollo 14 landed on the moon.
Dave, who joined as a Cost Clerk and now works as a Cost Accountant, said: “I’ve said before that I have never wanted to work anywhere else and that remains true today. I’m still enjoying the job after all these years.”
A total of 16 employees were also honoured for completing 40 years’ service.
Among them was Bev Wallace, aged 56, of Uttoxeter, who joined as an order processing clerk in 1976 – a year the UK was hit by a heatwave and drought. She now works as a Shipping Administrator, a job she has held for 35 years, responsible for the transportation arrangements for machines being despatched to North and South America.
Bev said: “I simply wrote to JCB to ask if there were any jobs. I got asked for an interview for the order processing role and got the job. So I’ve only ever had one interview in my whole life. I never thought I would have stayed here this long but I live locally and the company looks after us well.”