What does your role at Involvement entail?

With overall responsibility for Finance, I work to ensure sound strategic financial planning and management to support Company’s growth plans. I’m also looking forward acting as a ‘weatherman’ to identify and seize new opportunities.

A short summary of your career so far:

I started my career with Involvement over 15 years ago as a junior in the team. I was plucked out of relative obscurity and I was given the opportunity to develop and lead the team about 10 years ago. Since joining the company, I have been fortunate to gain experience in various positions across Finance, Operations, Procurement and IT.

During my time at Involvement, I have progressed my professional competence to become a Fellow Member of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA).

What makes Involvement a great place to work?

At Involvement, we believe in everyone’s ability to succeed. With the right support, nurturing and opportunity, we believe that each of our team members can make a difference and better themselves.

It’s this belief that has enabled us to assemble at team of like-minded people, creating high performance whilst also retaining a family feel to our work place.

Our drive for high performance is an absolute joy to see especially when you witness colleagues striving to be the best at what they do, with everyone ready to support each other to achieve their potential.

What makes Involvement different? 

We are built on clear values that we live and breathe, which shapes whatever we do. Actually consistently implementing our performance-led culture sets us apart.

What makes Involvement companies successful?

Our learning culture also ensures we are better day after day, upholding our high-performance culture. We believe both success and failure are opportunities to learn.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I am a keen lover of sport and enjoy football, cycling and swimming. With 4 children I have a very active life outside of work!

What does your role at Involvement entail?

Good question.  I often find myself asking myself this!

Of course, I would say things like setting the company vision and strategy,  identifying opportunities, engaging people in the future etc. But really my role is to make other people better by being ambitious and bold, bringing a calm and resolute confidence and reassurance around what we can achieve, bringing the best outside thinking in, strengthening the team and its teamwork continuously and really actively thinking about and acting on our People.

A short summary of your career so far:

Graduated from Bristol University and then City University Business School.

Followed my dreams and spent 12 years training and working as a Chartered Surveyor in Central London, latterly as a Partner at Knight Frank LLP a great business where I was extremely happy.

But no matter how much I tried I couldn’t escape the pull of Involvement and it was by accident and due to events outside my control that I became CEO in 2011.

What makes Involvement a great place to work?

Quite simply, the most incredible group of people I have ever worked for.

What makes Involvement different?

The way we have actually managed to build our Performance Culture. We’ve done it and not many people can say that. This has made us a wonderfully resilient organisation ready to face any challenge and with the courage and self-belief to seize new opportunities. It is the spirit of Involvement that is something special. People can copy what we do but they can’t copy how we do – it’s the biggest competitive advantage we have.

What makes Involvement companies successful? 

Having made the commitment to join the business, I really began to see just how much potential there was to unlock and I was very much drawn to the hardworking and loyal people and the amazing spirit the company had. I felt that the key to releasing all this potential and turning the business into a more successful sustainable business over the long term was changing the way people behaved. The way we have gone about that is by reconnecting people with the fundamental values of the business - the things that are important to us around here.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

My spare time is largely spent with my family and I love supporting them.  My wife who was a lawyer for over 20 years is currently retraining to be a teacher and that’s a tough gig. My daughter is in to all things to do with the stage and my son spends so much time at the tennis club that I have decided to start having lessons myself! I am also an Arsenal fan and one day I would like to learn to play the electric guitar just so I could play rock music really really loud.

What does your role at Involvement entail?

I recently took on the role of Account Manager. I have a large range of customers that I am responsible for and I aim to provide a World Class Customer Experience.

A short summary of your career so far:

Having come from a background in sales I joined Involvement 5 years ago as a Customer Service Executive, covering the Manchester area. I have since progressed to take on a new challenge as Account Manager, which I am thoroughly enjoying. This has given me the opportunity to take on new responsibilities and maximising sales across the business.

What makes Involvement a great place to work?

I have worked for Involvement for 5 years and can honestly say it is the multi skilled workforce we have that makes the business what it is today. Everybody pulls together and nothing is too much trouble for anyone. No one is afraid to get stuck-in, no matter what needs to be done.

What makes Involvement different?

Having worked for a previous company for 14 years I felt it was time to move on, due to lack of opportunity and recognition. Involvement have shown me that everything I do is valued and appreciated, which drives me to try even harder and go the extra mile.

What makes Involvement companies successful?

A strong leadership combined with open and honest conversations means that there is a great level of trust across the business. With everyone pulling in the same direction it is not hard to see why Involvement are the market leaders in what they do.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Outside of work I like to socialise as much as I can with my friends, whether it be a meal or a fun activity. I am also a member of Rock Choir which I absolutely love. I also enjoy spending time with my family. We have recently got a dog which we enjoy taking on long walks.

What does your role at Involvement entail?

I’m responsible for overseeing the Sales & Marketing Discipline, I work closely with colleagues and customers to set the direction, planning, resourcing and execution of Business priorities and strategies against our 3-year plan.

A short summary of your career so far:

I can’t quite believe it but I started at Involvement as an apprentice 22 years ago, graduating along the way with a Business Management Degree. Before my current role, I worked across various areas of the Company including Customer Service, Procurement and most recently in our Supply Chain as Operations Manager.

What makes Involvement a great place to work?

I simply love my work, I enjoy Monday mornings!
We dedicate time to our own learning and helping our colleagues reach their potential.
We make time to celebrate successes, recognising and rewarding colleagues across the business.

What makes Involvement different?

We’re a forward-thinking business that commits to nurturing colleagues and the best talent to deliver excellence in performance. We scout and recruit colleagues with the right mix of knowledge, skills and attitude and we learn from our mistakes.

What makes Involvement companies successful?

Were always anticipating, predicting future trends and seizing opportunities. We put our colleagues and customers first.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I have a keen interest in sport, in particular, football and I love keeping my mind and body active.

What does your role at Involvement entail?

My role within Involvement is quite varied, thankfully! I lead all aspects of our Digital Infrastructure across the group including IT systems and projects. I'm responsible for ensuring that our cyber security and technology suite all sing and dance together. In addition, I'm also part of our Senior Leadership Team within the group, ensuring that we have a clear vision for our future, and more importantly, ensuring we execute it! Whether it's working with the team at InvoTechnology or leaders from across the business to deliver a new ERP system, I very much enjoy being at the heart of everything.

A short summary of your career so far:

I began my career straight after school with Involvement and have been here ever since. I started the business completing a business apprenticeship, moved into sales but quickly found my passion within the rapidly growing digital aspect of the business. I'm currently working on a large project for the group that will take 12 months to implement, amongst many other things.

What makes Involvement a great place to work?

Everyone at  Involvement is part of a very powerful coalition, with 1 shared purpose. We also have a strong set of values that underpins everything we do and that definitely creates a real sense of Involvement for us all. One of the most important things for me is having the right individuals in the right places and with our Senior Leadership Team, Lead Roles and all our colleagues across the group we definitely have that. We are all trusted and empowered to complete our day-to-day duties and sync across necessary teams, which really proves we have 1 shared purpose.

What makes Involvement different?

We refuse to be defined. We're a family run business that keeps that close nit feel despite us expanding and diversifying. The team spirit and shared passion to be successful really does make Involvement different. What once was an industrial packaging business, is now so much more. Packaging is very much at our hearts and always will be, but throw Fulfilment and IT services in there, it really is a diverse group covering many different industries and skills.

What makes Involvement companies successful?

Lack of fear and the passion to constantly do better, to be better, in whatever it is that we look to do. We have some amazing people within the teams, and the ideas and drive that they have really push us forward - we simply cannot stand still.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

When I'm not working for Involvement you can usually find me doing something fun and adventurous with my family and little girl. Whether it be walking through streams in our wellies or finding where the Gruffalo lives, we're usually outside battling the British weather. When I'm not getting my steps in and being 'mum', I love to cook or practice playing the piano - usually not both at the same time!

What does your role at Involvement entail?

I’m responsible for Receipt, Handling and Despatch of all products into our warehouses.  As you can imagine I have to remain calm and adaptable!

A short summary of your career so far:

I started my distribution and warehousing career within the automotive industry as a warehouse cell member and worked my way up to a team leader. I moved to Involvement 5 years ago taking on the role as a Warehouse Manager. Following the companies diversification and strategic planning, I have progressed into the role of Warehouse & Logistics Manager.

What makes Involvement a great place to work?

What makes Involvement a great place to work are my colleagues. Every colleague has valuable input into how we shape the company either through their Goals, High Performance Plans or even through something as simple as our 1% Improvements.

What makes Involvement different?

The way our colleagues view each other and our Purpose and Values that we role model. Involvement still has a very unique family feel about it and having a company that listens to your thoughts and improvements and empowers you to make decisions is quite different in my experience.

What makes Involvement successful?

Our drive, passion and learning mindset.

What do you enjoy outside of work?

I’m still very active in playing Rugby but away from that, I enjoy family time, outdoors & holidays.

What does your role at Involvement entail?

Like many colleagues, my role and Involvement is quite varied. I look after communications and engagement for all divisions within he group. This involves internal communications and engagement activities, such as reinforcing our Values, reward & recognition and projects to help us all improve Performance, such as mental wellbeing or our High Performance Plans. From an external communications point of view I work with our marketing team, overseeing new product launches, campaigns and our external messaging across the group.

A short summary of your career so far:

I joined Involvement as a Marketing apprentice after completing my A-Levels. My apprenticeship was initially meant to be a stop gap, but 6 years later I’m still here! When I first joined the group I was mainly focussed on internal communication & engagement. My objectives centred around building our Purpose & Values-led Performance Culture. After some years of clear focus in this area, colleagues across the business began to truly live and breathe our Purpose and Values. The strong foundation in which our culture has been developed has enabled me to recently expand my skills and focus some time into marketing and external communications. 

What makes Involvement a great place to work?

Everyone at Involvement is united by our Purpose. It’s our North Star that guides us, even when times are tough we can remain focussed on our Purpose. The achievement of our Purpose is supported by a set of 5 core Values, our Values define how we achieve our Purpose. We all know how we can demonstrate our Values by familiarising ourselves with them and the ‘what you’ll see us do / hear us say’ phrases within our Values handbook. This is what creates our Performance culture, it enables everyone to take responsibility, improve the way we do things, learn new skills and most importantly, have fun.

What makes Involvement different?

Whilst I haven’t worked at many other businesses I can confidently say that Involvement is like no other. No one’s role is defined by their title or age, everyone has opportunities to develop and grow. I’ve seen the company move from premises in an old farm building, to state of the art warehouse and offices. Whilst the business has changed drastically during this time it has still retained the family-business feel and ethos.

What makes Involvement companies successful?

The fear of standing still! One thing that Involvement does is ensure that they are continually progressing, diversifying and innovating, this has advanced their success at pace. Of course, the pace of development wouldn’t be possible without an engaged workforce.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work? 

Outside of work I spend lots of time with my horses, I’m usually training, competing or going for a ride with friends. I also love travelling and I’ve travelled Europe, Australia & New Zealand. I’m hoping to venture to Asia soon.

What does your role at Involvement entail?

As Head of Diversification, my role is to scope, source and launch new products and services across the Involvement Group, targeting both new products for existing customers, and accessing new markets and sectors away from our traditional focus of industrial packaging.

A short summary of your career so far:

Having studied Mandarin at university, I have been involved in sourcing/buying/supply chain for around 10 years. I cut my teeth at an online retailer, eventually heading up their homewares brand. I then moved onto a multinational distributor of domestic appliance spare parts and accessories, as Group Head of Buying and Product Development. I then spent 2 years running my own business, focussed on sustainability, before joining Involvement mid-2021.

What makes Involvement a great place to work?

The culture. It’s so ingrained in every hire, every process and every meeting, it’s impossible to not buy into it!

What makes Involvement different

The focus on People, Purpose and Values. I have never been involved in a business that takes its responsibilities towards its staff so seriously, combined with the ability to contribute to a clearly defined direction of travel, safe in the knowledge that all other colleagues are pulling in the same direction.

 What makes Involvement companies successful?

We are all empowered to make bold decisions, at pace. This allows us to react to market conditions, or any external stimulus, quicker than our competitors.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Mostly sport. I play men’s netball at a national level, and coach a women’s rugby team. Not sure I’d have believed you if you told me in 2010 that’s what I’d be doing in 2022! Failing that, anything involving good food or wine will get my attention.

What does your role at Involvement entail?

I am responsible for the implementation of short, medium and long term goals for the Company and working alongside colleagues in planning personal goals and high-performance plans.  Overseeing the delivery of our High-Performance Culture including our Coaching Syllabus, our Standards, developing colleagues to achieve their potential with an eye always on the future.

A short summary of your career so far:

A marketing graduate from Lancaster University Business School my early career was in engineering, as a Marketing Executive promoting equipment to the automotive and aerospace industries.  At the age of 25, I moved into packaging as the Sales and Marketing Manager for a distribution company where I became the General Manager.  Following this company being purchased by Involvement I became responsible for all operations and secured my Directorship.  As the company grew, upskilling colleagues and recruiting new talents, I was promoted to Managing Director and now serve the Company, its customers, colleagues and stakeholders.

What makes Involvement a great place to work?

Two main points.  Firstly how we plan and communicate.  All colleagues are aware of our Company’s goals and our priorities for the next 12 months and how their role helps support them.  Our internal communications are excellent and we have many channels to stay connected with everyone.  Secondly how we work together as a team and immerse ourselves in our High Performance Culture, we pride ourselves that we all want to improve and enhance our skills and competencies with a blend of experience and youth across our teams.

What makes Involvement different?

We do what we say we will.
We collectively want to make small steps every day to improve our performance.
We are transparent, we have open and honest conversations, we share how we feel.
We listen to all ideas.
We have each other “backs.”
We sell products and services; we have no limitations to what we can do.
We have fun.

What makes Involvement successful?

Our people.
Our customers.
Our suppliers.
Our planning, strategies and how we debrief and review.
We do not fear making mistakes.

What do you enjoy outside of work?

The outdoors and the environment around me including walking, gardening projects and home improvements.  Staying mentally and physically fit including gym training and meditation sessions is important for me.    

What does your role at Involvement entail?

I am responsible for develop and implementing growth strategies across multiple channels with the Executive team, Directors and CEO. I also develop close relationships with Key Customers and Suppliers. I’m encouraged to experiment and implement learning initiatives through Involvement, which has included recently development of overseas markets.

A short summary of your career so far:

I started at Involvement as a trainee Sales Executive when we were 6 employees strong and turning over £1 Million and never wanted to move anywhere else. We have always tried to promote from within to give opportunity as part of our culture and I benefited from this. Now 35 years later I am responsible for revenues approaching £40m employing a team of over 80 skilled individuals.

What makes Involvement a great place to work?

I love working at this company and always have simply because it genuinely cares. Not just for its customers but its employees. At Involvement you will always be valued and given opportunity.

What makes Involvement different?

There are no stop signs at Involvement, we dedicate time to learning and planning the next opportunity, you never know what you might achieve at Involvement or where it will take you which is exciting and invigorating.

We have a really clear vision of how the future looks and what we need to achieve it. We believe everybody in the company makes a difference in us achieving this or not.

What makes Involvement successful?

We don’t mind making mistakes to learn from and encouraging the aspirations of our colleagues. We are honest and do the right thing by us, our customers as and our suppliers.
I also believe that we have a great ability and confidence to act with pace with our decision making which has been invaluable in the past few years!

What do you enjoy outside of work?

I love DIY and building or fixing things. There is something very satisfying in this. For fitness my preference is swimming and especially wild swimming or sea swimming which is a feeling like no other.

What does your role at Involvement entail?:

Leading the growth of our digital sales channels whilst implementing improvements to our websites and pricing structures to enhance Customer Experience and increase sales.

A short summary of your career so far:

Coming from a Customer Service background, I started with Involvement as a Customer Service Executive almost 5 years ago looking after the North Midlands area. I have since been given the opportunity to progress into my current role of Group Digital Sales Lead which I’ve been doing for just over a year now.

What makes Involvement a great place to work?:

Involvement put trust in their employees and empowers people to make their own decisions.  We have a culture where successes are celebrated, and recognition is encouraged throughout the business.

What makes Involvement different?:

We have a Growth mindset, embracing innovation and change. We are always adaptable and willing to take a leap of faith when it comes to trying something new.

What makes Involvement companies successful?:

We are a forward-thinking company, consistently connecting our shorter term Goals to medium and longer term plan which provides great clarity for all colleagues. We have a Purpose and Values led culture, putting Customers and Colleagues at the heart of everything we do.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I enjoy socialising, spending time with friends and family and walking. I’m interested in reading and learning anything that’s Anything love anything Astronomy / Space related!

What does your role at Involvement entail?

I run InvoTechnology, the IT services arm of the group. We support the groups digital infrastructure, as well as looking after the IT infrastructure of a growing number of external business located throughout the UK. I work closely with the internal IT to ensure technology goals, targets & service levels are met.

A short summary of your career so far:

I have worked within the IT Services industry for over 10 years now. Working for businesses in Manchester, Newcastle & even Australia for a short time. I have always been interested in the business side of an operation and had goals to start my own business which has now come to fruition thanks to the support of Involvement.

What makes Involvement a great place to work? 

The people. I have worked for a number of different companies over the years, but I’ve never seen such a large group of colleagues work together towards a common goal like here. Whether it be customer service, product & service delivery or colleague engagement. Every single person is on the same page with the same mindset.

What makes Involvement different?

The lack of line managers & faith put into colleagues to do their job to a certain standard. This is something I had not experienced before, every colleague knows their roles & responsibilities and carries these out without being micromanaged. This level of trust works wonders and no doubt increases productivity across the board.

What makes Involvement companies successful?

Dedication to customer service. In any walk of business, you have to listen to the customer. Whether it being delivering a product or a service, our dedication to making sure the client is happy & satisfied comes before anything else. I would say this is the main reason Involvement as a group has been so successful.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work? 

When I do finally take a break from work, spending time with my family & friends is a big part of my life. Hobby wise I enjoy keeping myself fit, working out in the gym, playing sports & walking is a constant. I also love to travel and I have spent months travelling South East Asia and Australia.