A CHAT WITH GENERAL MANAGER HYDRO UK JONATHAN FARNFIELD

Jonathan Farnfield started out as a mechanical engineer programming and setting 3, 4 and 5-axis machines for Formula 1 work and aerospace flying parts. He worked with Benetton, Ferrari, Lotus and Mercedes F1, dealing with high-precision components in aluminum and exotic metals. He also developed complex parts for A320/A340/A380 commercial aircraft as well as the Harrier, Tornado and Eurofighter. At the age of 40, he went to Cranfield University to get his degree in Manufacturing Management. Shortly after that, he became Managing Director of a company that had a £50 million revenue in aerospace forging. He also set up his own lean consultancy business for 2 years, which was great fun and hard work, until he was enticed to come to work at HYDRO UK. He have had every job throughout his career including programming, engineering design, lean trainer, procurement, sales, and Managing Director.

 

 

What is important to you in your daily work? And what are the particularities of a General Manager?

 

It is important to be down in the details but also at 30,000 feet. This sounds strange but you must keep your focus on the short, medium and long-term goals all at once while nurturing a fun but hard-working, pragmatic environment. There is a saying, that I believe in 100%, that goes “Every day is a school day.” If you learn something new every day, then you are open to learning. This makes your eyes more open to change or at least trying something new. Being a General Manager is very much like being a father. You form great bonds and build great teams that drive the business forward and make it a great place to work, you respect everyone and earn everyone’s respect (you hope). You treat your peers with importance and take opinions seriously, treat people how you would like to be treated. You must be strong, resilient and show great leadership.

 

 

“Every day is a school day.”

Jonathan Farnfield General Manager HYDRO UK

What challenges do you face at the UK site?

 

The UK is facing its biggest challenge in 2022 and that is to find a new home to bring all the teams together under one roof at the right location and cost. Currently, there are not many facilities  available, but the search is underway in earnest.

 

What kind of customers and industries does HYDRO UK serve?

 

Our biggest customer is Rolls-Royce Derby (civil large engines). We manufacture both engine tooling and engine transportation stands. We are contracted to ESR services where we service, refurbish and repair engine stands. We additionally manufacture, paint and assemble engine tooling in-house. We service tools for British Airways, Jet 2, Ryanair, Lufthansa Technik, Marshalls, Easyjet, Icelandair, STS, DHL, Storm aviation, Virgin, Tech 4 jets, Airbus, Airtanker, BAE and a few more. We service the equipment from small valves to bootstraps, tripods and jacks, either on-site or in-house. We do proof loading in-house and calibration. We also sell Ground Support Equipment (GSE) and spares to the airlines cited and MRO shops. This includes tripods, jacks, landing gear change systems, engine change kits and airframe tooling.

 

What are some of the challenges your customers come to you with?

 

All customers always have very urgent requirements and AOGs. We pride ourselves on the ability to always offer first-class service. We are getting more and more work through our exceptional customer service. We are not always the cheapest, but we are a customer-focused organization in HYDRO UK.

 

"We pride ourselves on the ability to always offer first-class service."

Jonathan Farnfield General Manager HYDRO UK

In 2020, HYDRO UK expanded its site. What are the plans for this expansion?

 

In 2019 and 2020, we were winning so much work that we simply had no more room and it was becoming too much of a health and safety risk. Temporarily, we managed to rent an additional 30,000 sq. ft. of space in the factory across the street from HYDRO UK for a period of two years. This fell in line with the end of our lease in the current facility. So the hunt is on for a 70,000 sq. ft. facility by the end of 2022

 

What is your takeaway from the Covid-19 pandemic and how will it affect the future?

 

A very interesting question. In reality, we are low on order intake for MTP (Make To Print) engine tooling but the other parts of the organization like ESR (Engine Stand Refurbishment), Machining and Service are blooming. We have kept the operational teams at work continuously since the start of the pandemic and have managed to keep the workplace free of COVID-19. Most office workers have been working from home as directed by the government. We are all looking forward to getting back to some sort of normality soon.

 

Is there an impact of Brexit that you are observing in your daily work?

 

To be completely honest, there has only been one minor impact so far and that has been a few weeks delay on goods coming in and new duty rules but no other impacts at all.

 

Did Brexit change the business or the way you do business?

 

No. Brexit has not impacted us apart from the way of importing and getting the duty refunded.

 

Looking back, what are you most proud of?

 

I’m proud of my team and the way we can react quickly and change to the situations to deliver the business both internally and to the customers. I couldn’t ask for more.

 

CLOSE-UP WITH JOHNATHAN FARNFIELD

A good day at work starts with...

our family dog almost falling over with excitement to see me, followed by smiling faces in the office.

 

The first time I earned money was...

at 5am 7 days a week delivering the morning papers to everyone in the village.

 

If I could choose someone to sit next to me on a plane...

it would be the comedian Micky Flanigan.

 

I lose track of time...

whilst walking the dog and chatting with other dog owners.

 

The most expensive thing I’ve ever bought in my life is...

was our current family home.

 

I’ve always...

dreamed of owning and flying my own helicopter.

 

If you want to get somewhere at HYDRO...

you must be a team player, work hard, be noticed, have fun and make a difference daily.

 

When I was 18, I wanted to...

be a racing driver.

 

To me, home is...

sitting on the balcony in Spain with my family,  with a gin and tonic watching the sun go down with the waves gently washing in.

 

Go back