The phrase ‘back to where it all began’ seems particularly fitting when we consider a milestone staff anniversary which perfectly tied in with a recent, prestigious contract win.

21 Years Ago

Our Operations Director, Dave Short, first met John Burgoyne 21 years ago. This meeting was in itself quite by chance as it was only the fact that an engineer decided to leave and start a new life as a mobile engineer in California, that before he left, he recommended John take his place! John joined us as a resident engineer to look after a relatively small air conditioning contract we had just won with the Plymouth University.

Strong Relationship

With not enough work from this single university contract, John was tasked with growing the areas client base. This was the start of what has become a very long and strong business relationship between Dave and John.

Through the years John became a real asset to Dave’s team, helping build new client relationships and expanding our client base through out the South West. John became a key member of the team, not only ensuring our high level of service continued in his area but also being pivotal in our accreditation processes, staff training and support to his fellow Managers and engineers.

Something to Celebrate

Last year the Plymouth University tender was again won by JCW, John’s input in this process was invaluable and it was a proud moment for us to be awarded the contract for Mechanical, HVAC and BMS maintenance for our old client. What is even more poignant is that it was just as John was coming up to his 21 year work anniversary, a great way to celebrate and mark both important occasions.

We asked John how he felt about his time with JCW through the years:

“The Plymouth University has played a central role in my life. In 1973 I was employed as a Radio & TV Technician in the Davy Building on the Plymouth Campus. When the opportunity came up to join JCW in 1999 I was looking to secure a position in Devon and Cornwall as a service engineer, so the fit was perfect for me. It was at a time when Dave had just created the service department for JCW, which was on the back of a company who had mainly concentrated on just air conditioning installation. The maintenance customers grew under Dave’s management and I was instrumental in developing some long term business relationships with the University management, and other core customers who we still work closely with today .

There have obviously been many changes through the years but we have still maintained a core of engineers who are loyal to Dave and the JCW way of life. Many of them are still with the Company today and have achieved over 15 year’s service which is testament to the strength of JCW.

The recent ownership has been the best to date, with a focused team of professional directors heading the company. It has been a real pleasure working and socialising with my colleagues over the years, and I am absolutely delighted to have been an essential part in winning this contract back. The time is approaching now for me to head off into the sunset down through Europe in my VW camper van but before that happens, I intend to make sure all is running smoothly at the University. I haven’t actually got the van yet either!

I have total confidence in the existing team we now have on Campus and am sure this will be the platform for the Plymouth Division to develop and expand. Finally, a big thank you to everyone who I have worked with over the years as the help and support has been an invaluable part of the companies success.”

Dave added:

“Thanks to John for all his hard work and support over the years through the good times and the bad. You have become a very good friend to me and to Nicky. It has been an absolute pleasure knowing you and your family, however I am not ready to let you go just yet!”

We would like to congratulate John on both the contract win and achieving his 21 year milestone with us. We look forward to seeing how his team develops, out of the newly formed Plymouth office.

Watch this space to keep a track on developments!