A telescopic forklift driver has been thanked for the 25 years of service he’s given to his company.
Frank Bates (57) works for Vistry southern and is currently helping build Catherington Park development in Waterlooville, where the region’s construction director Steve Ott presented him with £2,000 and a bottle of Champagne.
He joined Try Construction in 1997, and with Galliford Try he spent 12 years working on a programme of improvement works at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon.
Vistry Group was formed in 2020 from the merger of Bovis Homes and Galliford Try’s housing businesses and incorporates Bovis Homes, Linden Homes and Vistry Partnerships.
“It’s great to have a job in a fun, fast-paced environment, as I don’t actually feel like I’m working,” he said.
“I enjoy forklift driving, and I’ve been doing it so long now that no one has to tell me what to do or how to do it.
“It didn’t make much of a difference to me when Linden Homes and Bovis Homes joined under the Vistry Group, as it’s still the same demanding job that I love. Vistry has been the best company I’ve worked with, as they let me get on with my job the way I like to do it.”
He said his favourite part of the job was the people he worked with, with the firm being one big family, and that included the construction director.
“I was pleasantly surprised that Steve came to see me in person to congratulate me, and it really made me feel appreciated by him and the company,” he said.
Dawnet Mclaughlin, managing director of Vistry Southern, said: “It’s rare to come across people who are as dedicated and trustworthy as Frank, and his efforts have not gone unnoticed.
“It can be tough to stay in the same place for a long time, but I don’t think the word ‘tough’ is in Frank’s dictionary. He is so conscientious and skilled at his job and is still performing each job to a high standard.
“His site managers don’t even need to tell him what to do – he just knows. Frank’s work ethic is unsurpassed, and every company would be lucky to have an employee like him. We sincerely appreciate his hard work and efforts year after year.”
