Guy Lacey joined H+H UK Limited in March, taking overall responsibility for the manufacturing plants in Borough Green and Pollington. It was a big wrench to leave his previous position, so what motivated the move?
“I’ll make no secret of the fact that I absolutely love manufacturing. It wasn’t a career I expected – having graduated with a chemistry degree I knew I didn’t want to work in a laboratory and, rather by accident, ended up in a factory and knew I’d found my place.
I love everything about it – the machinery, the clear objectives and the teamwork it takes to get the best results. I simply can’t imagine doing anything else.
Of course it was a big move to leave the company where I had worked for over thirty years, but H+H provides an opportunity too good to be passed over. The brand is so iconic, so well known and so trusted in the industry that it’s of course immediately attractive, but to a chemist, the sheer chemical magic of the aircrete product is also appealing.
Who wouldn’t want to work with a product that provides so perfectly what the customer needs?
Just as importantly, I’m fortunate to be taking over responsibility for factories that have been well invested, that are efficient and absolutely fit for purpose. H+H also benefits from the level of experience in its workforce. We’ve got people here with decades of experience on aircrete production and that’s hugely valuable.
My job is to build on that and to ensure that H+H attracts and retains the next generation of people who will continue to provide the blocks for future housebuilding.
My priority is always to ensure that everyone within the organisation feels included and motivated. Every individual has a vital role to play in providing the right quality product for our customers. We don’t carry passengers, and it’s important that each person understands the importance of what they do and feels fully invested in the outcome.
With everything that is going on the world, the significance of local manufacturing, supplying local market needs, is only going to increase and I for one am delighted to be a part of it.