What name/nickname do you prefer to be called?  

My parents would often call me by my Christian name Samuel (especially if I was in trouble), but I’m happy with just Sam. My close friends from climbing, always refer to me as Samsonite (I don’t even know how & when that started).

What name/nickname do you prefer to be called? 

My job title is Training Manager and I wouldn’t write another, as manage the training department is what I do.  It’s a varied role and I’m responsible for:

• Advising customers on the correct course to book.
• Ensuring SpanSet are compliant with audits such as IRATA, MATS EUSR and JAUPT Driver CPC.
• Managing the Instructors' day to day activities and supporting the Team when required.
• Upkeep of the Training Centre
• Reviewing training courses and improving content and material

What do you enjoy about the work you do? 

I enjoy being the gel between the departments at SpanSet. I liaise regularly with Customer Support, the Trainers and our customers for example.  I also love the variety of customer training requirements I deal with – height safety training might be needed by a person working on top of a lorry, abseiling off a wind turbine or operating a crane 90m off the ground. No two days are the same.

I’m fortunate to work with a great Team of Trainers, who are motivated and enthusiastic about keeping people safe when working at height, carrying out lifting operation or strapping down loads. 

What are your hobbies? 

My main hobby is cycling, predominately road riding but I love to mountain bike when time permits. I’m still a keen climber although over the last few years this has predominantly been at my local climbing centre The Northwest Face. I still like to surf, especially on holidays (I can’t bear to go on a beach holiday, where there’s no potential to surf).  

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

Most of my time outside of work is spent running around after my 2 daughters Tilly & Bella. When not spending time with the family, I’m usually tinkering with my bikes in the garage or training during wet weather on my Wattbike atom.