What name/nickname do you prefer to be called?

At work I am “the smiling assassin” because I turn up smiling and then hand out the jobs!   Outside work just “Rob” and of course “Dad”. 

If you could write your own job title that best describes what you do here, what would it be?

Officially I am “Global Head of Product Line – Height Safety”, which was intended to describe the lead role I take in directing the future of the Height Safety product line within the SpanSet Group. Originally this was a sales management orientated role, however as the UK business has developed into the group “Competence Centre” for height safety my role has shifted focus to include more of the product management elements of the job. 

In reality my responsibilities within the UK business begin and end with anything relating to the delivery of height safety products to the market; design, marketing, sales, compliance, procurement, production, QA, etc. In carrying out these responsibilities I need to collaborate with all the other departments and people within the business. Most days I am working with someone from every area of the business to drive our growth.  

What do you enjoy about the work you do?

Constant change. I don’t have a “routine” day. SpanSet is a business that is constantly growing and developing. Things don’t stand still, so it is impossible to get into a rut.  The challenge of the variety of customers we deal with - from working with the MOD on submarines in the North of Scotland to a chocolate factory in Brazil! 

Being part of a Global group also provides lots of great opportunities to collaborate with colleagues all over the world and experience different countries and their cultures.

What are your hobbies?

Does a daughter or a dog count as a hobby? By the time they’re tired out there isn’t much time left in a day! 

My interests have always centred around the outdoors. Primarily mountain biking, running, hiking, scrambling, etc and I also love the water, so swimming, canoeing, canyoning, scuba diving, windsurfing, etc. This probably stems from growing up in a village sandwiched between the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the Lake District National Park. No surprise I now live on the edge of the Peak District National Park! 

I never really engaged with team sports, so I don’t watch football. However, I did take up “Ultimate” (the team game with a Frisbee) and really enjoyed the ethos and inclusiveness of this sport. I have continuously played this since I was first introduced to it in about 2000. I have played for a couple of teams in both indoor and outdoor versions of the sport. I think it is great that I can play in a highly competitive tournament with both male and female teammates ranging in age from teenager to 50’s.   

What volunteering or passion projects do you do outside of work?

With a young family any voluntary work is currently limited to school community events. Although I have in the past volunteered for the national park to help the rangers with right of way maintenance projects. 

"Being part of a Global group also provides lots of great opportunities to collaborate with colleagues all over the world and experience different countries and their cultures." 

Rob enjoys many outdoor sports on land or in water.  

Rob - 'Everybody wants a 20ft poster of themselves somewhere in the world right? '