Category Archives: Company News

At John Pipe, we’re committed to helping those in need, which is why we supported the YMCA Sleep Easy event on Saturday, 4th May 2024 and we’re supporting them again on Saturday, 12th October 2024.

The “Sleep Easy” challenge provides a fantastic opportunity for individuals and organisations to raise awareness about homelessness and support YMCA Bournemouth, a local charity dedicated to ending homelessness. Participants build cardboard shelters and ‘sleep rough’ to experience what it’s like to be homeless, setting fundraising targets to help tackle homelessness in Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch, and other areas of Dorset.

YMCA Bournemouth offers hope to local homeless individuals and gives participants a deeper understanding of the realities of sleeping rough.

We at John Pipe donated boxes and wood for school children to use during the event, assisting in their efforts to raise funds for the homeless.

Find out more about the YMCA Sleep Easy and feel free to donate via their website.

John Pipe are proud to have recently signed the Armed Forces Covenant – a promise to treat those who have served in the forces fairly. We have received the bronze award from the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) and commit to honouring the Armed Forces Covenant and supporting the Armed Forces Community.  Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether Regular, Reserve, or in the past, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services (including the families of those who served). We believe that special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given the most such as the injured and/or the bereaved. This obligation involves the whole of society: it includes voluntary and charitable bodies, private organisations, and the actions of individuals in supporting the Armed Forces. Recognising those who have performed military duty unites the country and demonstrates the value of their contribution.

Principles of the Armed Forces Covenant

We will do our best at John Pipe to follow the important rules of the Armed Forces Covenant, which are the following:

• No member of the Armed Forces Community should face a disadvantage in the public and commercial services compared to any other citizen.
• In some circumstances, special treatment may be appropriate, especially for the injured or bereaved.

Demonstrating our Commitment

We recognise the value that personnel, reservists, veterans and military families bring to our business and to our country. Due to this, we will seek to uphold the principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, by:

• Promoting the Armed Forces
• Recognising military skills and qualifications in our recruitment and selection process.
• Supporting our employees who are already members of the Reserve Force.
• Supporting our employees who are volunteer leaders in military cadet organisations.
• Supporting Armed Forces Day, Reserves Day, the Poppy Appeal Day, and Remembrance activities
• Supporting staff who volunteer to assist with Armed Forces charities fundraising.

We are proud to say that we will publicise these commitments through our literature and/or on our website, which sets out how we will seek to honour them. We will invite feedback from the service community and our customers on how we are doing.

To welcome Sarah Franklin to the John Pipe team, we wanted to share her In The Spotlight answers!

Before working at John Pipe, what was your most interesting or unusual job?

For a while, I was the only female Sales Engineer in the UK selling service plans for industrial compressors! The role took me the length and breadth of the country and into Europe and opened my eyes to many different industries including huge manufacturing and engineering companies. It made me realise the scale of some production plants and the enormous size of the compressors required to run these plants!

What was the reason that you wanted to work for John Pipe International?

From initial contact to the current day, the company ethos and culture really impressed me. It was obvious the team at JPI were masters at their craft and a kind and friendly bunch too. I was made to feel valued, trusted and respected from the first moment which gave me a lot of confidence and a warm, fuzzy feeling I have not experienced with a company for quite some time.

What would you say is your favourite part of the job?

I love every aspect right now. I really enjoy visiting customers old and new and the challenge of growing our business. I’m really enjoying getting to know the JPI team and working with them in different capacities.

How would you describe John Pipe International in 3 words?

Traditional, Supportive, Inspiring.

What’s a movie quote that you really like?

‘There’s no place like home’ from The Wizard of Oz which is my all-time favourite film. I know every word of this film and all the songs! It reminds me of my childhood. I don’t know how many times I must have watched it! It’s happy, sad, innocent, and dark in places!

What’s your favourite holiday that you’ve been on?

I am very well-travelled and am lucky enough to have visited all the places I ever wanted to go to. It would be almost impossible to pick a favourite. Highlights are safari in Kenya, California, Vegas, Dubai, Hong Kong, Estonia, Thailand……I could carry on all day! As a result, I have some amazing friendships with people all over the world. Travel has been a massive passion of mine over the years, but I am much more homely these days. However, I am writing a second list for the future!

What do you like to do for fun outside of work?

My main hobbies are singing in a choir and playing tennis. Despite many years of playing tennis, I don’t think I have ever improved but I do enjoy it!

In 2019, I was lucky enough to sing at Carnegie Hall in New York where we had our own concert, and the Carnegie Hall orchestra supported us. It all came about from a cover we did of a Foo Fighters song called ‘Come Alive’ which went viral. Dave Grohl himself got in touch and it all went from there! It was all for charity and the response was incredible. It was an experience I will never forget.

If you could go on a road trip with any famous person, who would it be?

I’d like to go with Prince William and find out his plans for our country for the future!

It’s week eight of our In The Spotlight interview series, and we are chatting with Chris, one of our Case Makers.

What’s your role at John Pipe – and what does it involve?

I’m a crate/case maker. The job involves hands-on, manual labour, heavy lifting, using various machinery and pneumatic tools.

Before working at John Pipe – what was the most interesting or unusual job you’ve had?

Wetcast specialist and cast stone operator at Broadstone Cast Products ltd.

What would you say is your favourite part of the job?

Making things, I like being busy and cannot sit still for five minutes straight!

How would you describe John Pipe in 3 words?

Welcoming, hospitable and creative!

What’s the most memorable thing you’ve packed at John Pipe?

A massive whole flight refuelling pod. Super interesting to see one in real life!

What’s a movie quote that you really like?

“What I wanna caravan for, its got no f!@×#£÷g wheels!”

What’s your favourite holiday that you’ve been on?

Greece.

What do you like to do for fun outside of work?

Boxing, martial art training, riding, running, socialising with friends, spending time in the garden with our pets, working out, drawing, going to the beach or the heathland for long walks, and 100% listening to music.

If you could go on a road trip with any famous person, who would it be?

David Draiman.

We are delighted to announce that one of our amazing employees, Mark Logan, will be taking part in the London Marathon 2024 for charity. Read the full message from Mark below:

If you are able to make a donation I would be sincerely grateful indeed. You can donate to my JustGiving page by clicking here:

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to Rays of Sunshine, so it’s the most efficient way to give – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Thank you

Mark

For week seven of our In The Spotlight interview series, we’re chatting with Nathan, our MD.

What’s your role at John Pipe – and what does it involve?

I’m the Managing Director, and my responsibilities involve supporting the first-class team of professionals that I have the privilege of working with.

Before working at John Pipe – what was the most interesting or unusual job you’ve had?

My position as senior animal manager at Little Amazon, now known as Island Amazon Adventure on the Isle of Wight was by far the most fun job I have ever had. Working with tropical birds, monkeys, reptiles, fish, and bats, every day was filled with danger and excitement. I particularly enjoyed conducting meet the animals sessions, basically showing off with the animals to a group of awe-struck people is the best!

How long have you been working for John Pipe?

Fifteen years in November this year.

What would you say is your favourite part of the job?

Partnering with our customers and supporting them to achieve their deadlines and ensuring their goods get to their customers in first-class condition and on time.

How would you describe John Pipe in 3 words?

Caring, Supportive, Family.

What’s the most memorable thing you’ve packed at John Pipe?

So many different things from stuffed animals, beautifully handcrafted instruments, scientific equipment, a plane, equipment for soldiers, huge factory machinery, and undersea cables on bespoke cable drums, but the item that sticks in my mind most is a specific set of cardboard boxes that had to be designed in a way so that they could be secured together as a single unit, but easily separated without tools, fire and water resistant, drop tested, with fastenings allowing the boxes to be opened and closed without tools and reusable up to 100 times, while at the same time, being small enough to pass through a specific sized window. I am very proud of our design and solution.

What’s a movie quote that you really like?

I’m Mary Poppins Y’all! (Yondu in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2)

What’s your favourite holiday that you’ve been on?

Family camping trip to Perranporth in Cornwall. Best beach in the world. Great for Children.

What do you like to do for fun outside of work?

Collect comics and build Lego!

If you could go on a road trip with any famous person, who would it be?

Milton Jones, Stand Up Comedian. – He is absolutely hilarious!!

For week six of our In The Spotlight interview series, we’re talking with James Clark, our Finance Manager.

What’s your role at John Pipe – and what does it involve?

I’m a Finance Manager and my job is wide-ranging and varied and no two days are the same. My job includes ensuring the senior management team has timely relevant and accurate financial information to enable the business to grow and enable them to make key business decisions. I manage all aspects of the financial ledger including sales and purchases and that all invoices are paid both income & expenses on time & within account terms. I also manage the company payroll ensuring our amazing team gets paid their Salary or Wages on time.

Before working at John Pipe – what was the most interesting or unusual job you’ve had?

At school, I was asked what I wanted to do when I left. I said work in a bank. I was told boys from this School don’t get jobs like that… through my career, I ended up working for an International Bank, and got to travel to New York, Chicago, Hong Kong and Mumbai.

How long have you been working for John Pipe?

1 year.

What would you say is your favourite part of the job?

Improving and delivering reliable financial management information for critical business decision-making.

How would you describe John Pipe in 3 words?

Family, Team, and Professional.

What’s the most memorable thing you’ve packed at John Pipe?

I’ve never done any packing, but “wrapping up the financials” into a user-friendly PowerPoint comes close 😉

What’s a movie quote that you really like?

That really hurts.

What’s your favourite holiday that you’ve been on?

Honeymoon in Mexico.

What do you like to do for fun outside of work?

Camping in my VW camper van.

If you could go on a road trip with any famous person, who would it be?

Jason Bourne in that role.