Julia Windsor (Technical Design)

“You need patience, an eye for detail and creativity”

I have worked in the technical design for eighteen and a half years. We take artwork and use a special computer program to turn it into a pattern that can be woven on a loom to make fabric.

I like the attention to detail and working on all sorts of different designs across big and small fashion and interior brands. You could be drawing out a tiny spot one minute and then a big floral. It is very satisfying when something you have worked on looks beautiful once it’s been woven.

Julia Windsor (Technical Design)

“You need patience, an eye for detail and creativity”

I have worked in the technical design for eighteen and a half years. We take artwork and use a special computer program to turn it into a pattern that can be woven on a loom to make fabric.

I like the attention to detail and working on all sorts of different designs across big and small fashion and interior brands. You could be drawing out a tiny spot one minute and then a big floral. It is very satisfying when something you have worked on looks beautiful once it’s been woven.

Phil Harris (Yarn Stores Team Leader)

“Everyone knows who you are”

I like the fact that we work together to achieve great things, and each individual is part of the process. Good news is happily shared and rewarded. Being told you’ve done a good job is great and this extends throughout the company. After recently completing a college course, I was congratulated by the directors and the managers as well as my peers, which is nice.

Phil Harris (Yarn Stores Team Leader)

“Everyone knows who you are”

I like the fact that we work together to achieve great things, and each individual is part of the process. Good news is happily shared and rewarded. Being told you’ve done a good job is great and this extends throughout the company. After recently completing a college course, I was congratulated by the directors and the managers as well as my peers, which is nice.

Marie Seabrook
(Weaver)

It is an open place to work, family orientated, and people get on well together. There are a variety of things organised by the events team like bowling, horse racing and Christmas parties; things that people enjoy for a good night out.

Dominic Thomas
(Warehouse)

What I enjoy most about the job is that people are really nice to work with and make your life a lot easier. When it is busy it is good just getting on and working with people that you enjoy working with. I also like the variety of working in different departments because it mixes the day up.

Lynette Cole
(Mill Shop)

The customers are really good. That’s the best thing about working here, because you get to see what people are doing with the fabric. Quite often they’ll come in with photographs to show you what they’ve done and that’s really nice.

Joe Adams
(Tackler)

I am a tackler, which is a mechanical engineer. I like taking things that are broken and working out how to fix them. It is really satisfying when you have fixed a problem.

Michelle Beckinsale
(Admin)

It’s great that we celebrate success. We have a profit share scheme. Last time it was announced outside, and we all had a nice little glass of champagne. I think it’s lovely because you feel appreciated here. You still feel like there’s a personal feel to the company. You’re not a number. You’re a valued person.

Kate Conaghan
(Mill Shop Manager)

A big part of my job is finding creative ways to use excess and waste materials from the mill, I don’t think there’s been any ideas I’ve had that have been knocked back, but I’ve held back the wild ones!

Rachel Claydon (Pattern Library)

“I work in a library, which is like a room full of books, but instead of books, it’s fabric”

I prepare fabrics for customers. Signing off that they have been woven correctly, checking colours, making sure there’s no faults. It’s picking up on those types of things. It’s just about taking a bit of pride in what you’re doing to make things look nice.

I get to see the new designs before they are sent to the customers. There are quite a variety of different things. You’re either working on projects for tailors, or upholsters, or one of a kind bespoke project. The fabric comes through, and you think, Ooh I like that, but I wouldn’t wear that one!

Rachel Claydon (Pattern Library)

“I work in a library, which is like a room full of books, but instead of books, it’s fabric”

I prepare fabrics for customers. Signing off that they have been woven correctly, checking colours, making sure there’s no faults. It’s picking up on those types of things. It’s just about taking a bit of pride in what you’re doing to make things look nice.

I get to see the new designs before they are sent to the customers. There are quite a variety of different things. You’re either working on projects for tailors, or upholsters, or one of a kind bespoke project. The fabric comes through, and you think, Ooh I like that, but I wouldn’t wear that one!

Vikki Meuser (Warper and Weaver)

“Taking pride in my job is what I turn up to work for”

To work as a weaver, you need to be quite particular about getting things right. You have to be somebody that enjoys the actual making things, and making sure that it turns out right first time with attention to detail.

It’s an enjoyable job and there’s always something different nearly every day. We move around a lot, as there are different types of looms that need to run at different times.

Vikki Meuser (Warper and Weaver)

“Taking pride in my job is what I turn up to work for”

To work as a weaver, you need to be quite particular about getting things right. You have to be somebody that enjoys the actual making things, and making sure that it turns out right first time with attention to detail.

It’s an enjoyable job and there’s always something different nearly every day. We move around a lot, as there are different types of looms that need to run at different times.

Richard Heap (Quality Assurance Manager)

“You need a keen eye for detail”

I like getting people together to ask them how they think we can do things better. The team have the opportunity to chip in their ideas and we can improve how we do things to get it right first time. We set high targets and then we achieve them. It is rewarding when you are able to stop things from going wrong and we can celebrate achieving 98% right first time.

Richard Heap (Quality Assurance Manager)

“You need a keen eye for detail”

I like getting people together to ask them how they think we can do things better. The team have the opportunity to chip in their ideas and we can improve how we do things to get it right first time. We set high targets and then we achieve them. It is rewarding when you are able to stop things from going wrong and we can celebrate achieving 98% right first time.

Mae Littleton (Graphic Design)

“I use my creativity every day”

A typical day or week in graphic design is never the same. We’re always working on different projects for a variety of different customers. And we’re also always working on different seasons, different collections, different markets. So, the tasks that I do day to day are very varied and different.

When we’re drawing out new CAD artwork and new designs, we’re generating a lot of new designs. So, I think we’re really helping the business to stay at the forefront of current trends and also, we do a lot of redeveloping of old designs. So, using what we have, making it modern and innovative.!

Mae Littleton (Graphic Design)

“I use my creativity every day”

A typical day or week in graphic design is never the same. We’re always working on different projects for a variety of different customers. And we’re also always working on different seasons, different collections, different markets. So, the tasks that I do day to day are very varied and different.

When we’re drawing out new CAD artwork and new designs, we’re generating a lot of new designs. So, I think we’re really helping the business to stay at the forefront of current trends and also, we do a lot of redeveloping of old designs. So, using what we have, making it modern and innovative.!