Meet the Team Part One
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s how important human contact is to us all. That got us thinking about how it’s entirely possible to speak to someone on the phone many times a week, or chat via email, yet know very little about them as a person or even what they look like.
With this in mind, we thought it would be good to introduce our team members so you can put a face to a voice when you’re talking on the phone. We’ve also asked each of them to answer four questions about themselves (some of their answers are surprising!)
So, enjoy meeting the team and look out for Meet the Team Part Two:
Jon Mytton – Managing Director, accomplished pianist and someone who is described as ‘good at just getting things done!’
1. You used to sell pianos for a living. If I was buying a second-hand piano, what’s the most important thing/things to look for?
Go for a European make rather than a Far Eastern as you are far more likely to succeed with obtaining something of quality. This is apart from good Japanese makes such as Kawai or Yamaha. Otherwise, just simply go by your gut feel – if you like to play it, if it looks alright and you can afford the price then it will most likely be OK for you!
2. What do you consider to be the most important skill to succeed in life?
For me, it’s not really about skills so much as about attitude! If you have the right attitude, can be a team player, are a hard worker and someone who is genuine and honest – you will ALWAYS succeed!
3. What did you want to be when you were a child?
A pilot!
4. What makes Atlantis Tanks the best tank supplier in the UK?
Apart from the fact we have great products….it’s the great team that gives us the edge. We value our customers like there’s no tomorrow – everyone is important to us from the smallest to the largest!
Linda Carruth – Keeping Accounts running smoothly
1. Can you describe your best day working for Atlantis Tanks? What happened and why did you enjoy it so much?
This is a hard question to answer as I enjoy working for Atlantis and enjoy my job, in 2020 the whole team went to Hardwick Hall and had breakfast. We then had the company’s vision, goal & targets for the year presentation followed by a session with ‘The Speaker With The Orange Tie’, which was great fun, very interesting and helpful. Great to be part of the Atlantis Team!
2. What are your favourite hobbies and pastimes?
I enjoy cooking & barbecuing – especially trying different cuisines. I also like being outdoors – walking, gardening, etc.
3. If you weren’t working in accounts for Atlantis Tanks, what would be your fantasy job?
My dream job would be either a paramedic or a midwife – I love helping others.
4. Tell us one thing that none of the Atlantis team know about you?
I honestly don’t know, I think they know all there is to know about me!!!
Adrian Thompson – Production Manager with an atomic past
1. If you had to summarise your entire career in one sentence, what would that be?
Consistently producing quality products and always attempting to improve my engineering skills throughout my career.
2. What’s the best thing about being a production manager?
Having an impact on product quality and engaging with fellow employees.
3. What is your secret talent?
Like my work ethic, I do my gardening to a high standard.
4. As a welder, what is the most unusual thing you’ve welded?
I manufactured all the pipework for the Hadron Collider Nuclear Research Plant at CERN on the French/Switzerland border. (Machining and welding).
Riley Mytton – Operations Director and football fanatic
1. Why do you support Manchester United and Barcelona as opposed to a local team?
I do like Newcastle United as well, I just love the history and quality of football surrounding Barcelona and Manchester United and all they have achieved over the years. I just like to enjoy good football and this is what the likes of Barcelona bring!
2. The great debate is whether Messi or Ronaldo is the greater player. Why do you rate Messi vs Ronaldo?
I think both are brilliant players, Ronaldo is a goal machine and an example to others how hard he works towards his ambitions. But for me, I think Messi is the GOAT! He’s a natural phenomenon and so complete in his game. Passing, shooting, skills, dribbling, vision – he’s the best in most areas of the game! His stats are unbelievable and if you watch the highlight reels of him you will understand why football fans love him! 😀
3. What is your biggest ambition in life?
To be successful at what I set out to achieve, and to be consistently loyal to my personal core values. And to live life!
4. What’s your favourite and least favourite thing about working for Atlantis Tanks?
I love my job and everything about working for Atlantis, probably the nicest thing for me is this team’s momentum and strong work ethic which is like a pulling force as we all work to bring Atlantis to new horizons and further success.
The least favourite thing, I’m not really sure I have one but maybe Monday mornings.
Steven Hanlon – Logistics Manager. He may be an Extinction Rebellion target but he’s living the dream.
1. Please write a short paragraph about your background and how you joined the Atlantis team.
Prior to joining Atlantis, I worked for the Banks Group for 30 years. 27 of these years were in Transport with the last 10 year as Transport Manager.
My employment with the company heavily relied on the success of the coal mining business and changes in government policy over the last few years clearly questioned the future of coal mining in the UK. With all active mining sites in the UK coming to end in 2021, and the government refusing approval for any new sites, I was conscious that 2021 would probably be my last year working for the Banks Group.
I accidentally became aware of the vacancy at Atlantis Tanks. Immediately, it appeared a good fit for me and my skills and it reminded me of the Banks Group when I joined 30 years ago – A successful family business on the way up that push to offer a great service, put their customers at the forefront of their thoughts and conduct their operations in the correct way)
So… for the first time in over 30 years I decided to apply for a job vacancy and the rest is history!
2. What’s the most interesting/bizarre story from your time with the Banks Group?
There’s a few. Many aren’t suitable to print and not sure what would be classed as interesting / bizarre as a lot of it became the norm.
I had to shut the southbound Tyne Tunnel to get a heavy / wide load to travel northbound up the southbound side as the load could not fit through the northbound side.
I’ve been on an advanced media training course with ITV / Tyne Tees news reading legend Pam Royle.
I’ve been to public meetings with riot police positioned outside the venue and on major loads near to the venue.
I’ve been identified as a potential target for Extinction Rebellion (due to Banks Group involvement with coal) and needed to go on defensive driver training course and also be shown techniques on how to spot if you are being followed. I was also advised to stop using social media with friends and family as there was a concern that if Extinction Rebellion couldn’t intimidate their targets directly they would go for their friends and family and apparently social media make it easier for such groups.
We have had to dig protestors out of the ground and get them down from trees before starting sites.
When Banks were granted permission for a new coal site in 2018, protesters stormed our offices and carried out a fake funeral to signal the death of the world.
I was sent on secondment for 6 months to work with the government and the army in the fight against foot & mouth.
I answered the telephone one day and it was Tony Blair on the phone. (He was Prime Minister at the time)
I’ve offered Prince Edward a polo mint.
A driver once killed a rat with his shovel when delivering to a farm. It turned out to be the farmer’s daughter’s pet chinchilla.
3. What’s the best thing about being a logistics manager?
No two days are the same and you always have to be ready for change and the next challenge.
4. How did your teachers describe you at school and what did you want to be when you were a child?
I’m not sure what my teachers would have said about me at school. Probably something like ‘Bless him. He’s not the brightest but he tries hard.’ My only ambition when I left school was to work with computers and to have a company car. I’ve just realised, I’m living the dream!
Tomasz Prychodny – A Production Engineer using his secret talents
1.What is your secret talent?
I don’t have any secret talents because I use them all in everyday life.
2. What is the best thing about being a production engineer?
Making people happy.
3. Please write a short paragraph about your background and how you came to work for Atlantis
In 2005 I started work as a welder in Poland. I’ve been living in England for 5 years with my family and I continue to work as a welder in my role as a Production Engineer for Atlantis.
