Wetherby, England, United Kingdom
I’m Managing Director at Collingham Catering Services, a second‑generation, family‑run business that’s been keeping commercial kitchens running for over 40 years. My route here wasn’t from the office to the boardroom. I started out on the tools over 30 years ago as a gas engineer, installing and maintaining fish and chip ranges among other things ⚒️ Since then, I’ve progressed from Engineer to Technical Manager to General Service Manager to Managing Director 💪 I joined Collingham Catering Services in 2004, and have been Managing Director since 2020. Having held so many roles within commercial catering, I recognise the importance of staying calm under pressure, communicating clearly, and diagnosing problems quickly and effectively. Whether it’s a combi oven breaking down or keeping multi‑site contracts running smoothly, I’ll address the challenge head-on to ensure the best possible outcomes for all involved, acting as the bridge between engineers and customers. My technical background means I’m just as comfortable stripping down an oven range as I am in a board meeting. Not many managing directors can say the same! Everything I’ve achieved, both in life and business, is down to the amazing people I’ve surrounded myself with. My Dad was my biggest inspiration growing up, and my colleagues are among my biggest inspirations today. They work tirelessly to uphold Collingham’s reputation for technical excellence and make sure our customers are looked after, not just dealt with. We’ve established ourselves as a one-stop shop, covering all aspects of commercial catering from gas and electrical to planned preventative maintenance and working with everyone from one-man burger vans to Michelin-starred restaurants. This versatility has helped us retain customers over 20, 30, or even 40 years and sets us apart in our industry. If you’d like one of our engineers to visit your premises or have any general queries, reach out to me at [email protected] 🙂