Dave was a finalist in the Spa Technician of the Year category at the UK Pool & Spa Awards last year. He was nominated by his colleagues for his expert knowledge of hot tubs, combined with his outstanding communication skills. By nature, Dave is very conscientious and has a ānever give upā attitude where nothing is too much trouble and he will always go the extra mile for the customer.
What does your role at Aqua Warehouse entail? When I joined the company initially my role involved a bit of everything including sales, installs and repairs, but as the company has grown, my role has become more specialised and Iām now dedicated to technical support. I oversee a team of two other technicians and an apprentice.
What areas do you cover? Iām mainly based in Essex, but we do offer assistance to our smaller dealers who may need help with installs and repairs. This part of my job means Iām often on the road travelling to areas such as Somerset, Kent, Surrey and across Hampshire.
What did you do previously? My background is in printing ā in fact I was a lithographer for 28 years. I went to school with Richard, the Managing Director of Aqua Warehouse, and in 2009 he offered me a job. Richard passed a lot of his spa and hot tub knowledge on to me and Iāve learned a lot on the job.
What do you enjoy most about your job? The best bit is being out and about, visiting different places and meeting new people. Every job I attend, whether itās an install or a repair is always different. No two days are the same.
Whatās been your most interesting experience in the industry? Iāve met some really interesting people; I fitted a hot tub for the stuntman Derek Lea who had been in films such as Gladiator, Titanic and Saving Private Ryan. I also fitted a hot tub for Big Brother winner Josie Gibson.
What is the biggest challenge you face in your job? Keeping people happy – thatās what itās all about. We always want to make our customers feel well-looked after and sometimes you have to go the extra mile to do that.
Whatās the best piece of advice you have been given? And by whom? We had just moved house and we realised that our dining room table didnāt fi t in the dining room at the new house. My father-in-law said to me: āIf it doesnāt fit, why donāt you have it cut down?ā ā Iāve never forgotten that pearl of wisdom!
What are your goals for 2017? In terms of work, Iād like to improve the training for our technicians and get our apprentice further forward this year. In my personal life, I plan to take things easier and try to kick back and relax a bit more.
What are your hobbies? I used to play the drums and I enjoy DIY. I also have three lovely children that I am very proud of and that take up a lot of my time outside of work.
Last word? Iād like to mention my wife Clare and thank her for everything she does. If it wasnāt for her, things would be very different. My life is all the better for having her in it.
