Tell us a bit about yourself and your role as an industry leader
I have worked for Carl Stahl Evita since 2004, originally joining the business as a sales administrator with no prior experience in the lifting industry. At that stage of my career, I didn’t fully appreciate just how technical, regulated and safety critical the sector was. What I did have, however, was a strong willingness to learn, a desire to take on responsibility and an appreciation for being part of a business that did things properly.
From the outset, I was fortunate to join a company built on strong family led values. Integrity, loyalty, responsibility and doing the right thing are not just words at Carl Stahl – they are principles that influence how decisions are made, how customers are treated and how people are developed. Those values have shaped my entire career and, ultimately, my leadership style.
As I progressed through the business, Carl Stahl invested heavily in my technical and professional development. A key part of that journey was completing several LEEA diplomas, which gave me a solid technical grounding in lifting equipment behaviour, inspection criteria, safe operation and the legislative framework that underpins our industry.
That formal learning was not theoretical alone; it was continuously reinforced through hands on exposure across inspections, testing, wire rope services, fabrication, lifting equipment supply and direct customer support.
Working across so many areas of the business allowed me to understand lifting operations from the ground up – not just from a management or commercial perspective, but from the practical realities faced by engineers, inspectors and end users on site. That breadth of experience has been invaluable and continues to influence how I approach leadership today.
After 15 years of continuous progression and increasing responsibility, I became managing director in 2019. This was not simply a promotion or a change in job title; it was a reflection of the company’s long standing commitment to developing people internally and supporting long-term careers.
Having grown through the organisation myself, I place huge importance on developing others in the same way.
Today, I lead with the same values that shaped me – being accessible, supportive, honest and fully engaged with both our people and our customers.
I believe leadership in a safety critical industry must be visible and grounded. Decisions have real consequences, and it’s vital that leadership understands the detail as well as the strategy. It is critical in this industry to be visible and grounded.
Decisions have real consequences, and it’s vital that leadership understands the detail as well as the strategy.
I now oversee a business that operates as a complete one-stop partner for lifting operations, bringing together bespoke engineering and manufacture, lifting equipment supply, inspections, testing, repairs and specialist training. Looking ahead, my focus is on strengthening our role in helping customers reduce risk across their entire lifting environment – not through isolated services, but through smarter engineering, improved competence and genuinely integrated service delivery. Looking ahead, my focus is on strengthening our role in helping customers reduce risk across their entire lifting environment.
How did you get into the industry, and why?
My route into the lifting industry was completely unplanned. When I joined Carl Stahl in 2004, I had no technical knowledge, no experience with lifting operations and no real understanding of the legislation or engineering behind them. Like many people entering the sector, I initially saw it as an opportunity within a good company, rather than a lifelong career choice.
However, as I learned more about the industry, it quickly became clear just how critical lifting equipment is to safety and operational reliability. Unlike many sectors, the consequences of getting things wrong in lifting are immediate and severe. Equipment failure, poor inspection or lack of competence can result in significant injury or worse. That reality had a profound impact on how I viewed the work we do.
Lifting operations support a vast range of industries – whether that is in construction, manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, ports, renewables and many others. In every case, the integrity of lifting equipment directly affects the safety of the people using it. That sense of responsibility motivated me to go deeper than surface level understanding and to build genuine technical competence rather than simply learning enough to “get by”.
What really anchored me to Carl Stahl, though, was the culture. The environment was supportive, values driven and focused on doing things the right way rather than the easy way. I was encouraged to grow, trusted with responsibility and supported by colleagues who believed strongly in teamwork, integrity and professionalism. That culture gave me the confidence to keep pushing myself and to take ownership of my development.
Over time, the industry became more than a job. It became a vocation – one that sits at the intersection of engineering, safety, problem solving and people. There is a real sense of purpose in knowing that the work you do contributes directly to safer workplaces and more reliable operations. That purpose is what has kept me engaged and motivated throughout my career, and it remains one of the strongest reasons I am proud to work in this industry today. There is a real sense of purpose in knowing that the work you do contributes directly to safer workplaces and more reliable operations. That purpose is what has kept me engaged and motivated throughout my career, and it remains one of the strongest reasons I am proud to work in this industry today.
What makes your company stand out?
Carl Stahl Evita stands out because we offer a genuinely complete and integrated lifting solution. We don’t simply supply equipment; we support customers across the entire lifting life cycle, from initial concept and design through to ongoing inspection, maintenance, training and risk management.
A core part of our offering is bespoke design and manufacture. Through our in-house engineering and fabrication teams, we design and manufacture lifting equipment tailored to specific operational challenges. This includes lifting beams, handling devices and custom engineered solutions where off the shelf products are simply not sufficient. Having this capability in-house allows us to maintain full control over quality, compliance and functionality.
Alongside bespoke manufacture, we supply a wide range of lifting equipment and accessories, supported by technical guidance to ensure customers are using the right equipment for the right application.
This technical support is critical, as incorrect equipment selection is a common source of risk in lifting operations.
Our inspection, testing and repair services play a vital role in helping customers remain compliant, safe and operationally dependable. We place a strong emphasis on preventative maintenance and life cycle support, helping customers reduce downtime, extend equipment life and avoid unplanned failures. Rather than reacting to problems, we work proactively to minimise risk. Training is another key differentiator for us. We deliver a broad range of industry recognised courses, including wire rope inspection, lifting and slinging, safe use of lifting magnets, overhead crane operation, height safety, health and safety, confined space training and AITT accredited forklift truck training.
Training is delivered either at our Rotherham centre or directly on site with customers, ensuring it is practical, relevant, and aligned to real working environments.
Importantly, our training is designed to build genuine competence rather than simply tick a compliance box. We want people to understand not just what they need to do, but why it matters – because that understanding is fundamental to reducing risk. What truly sets us apart, however, is our culture.
Many of our team members have been with us for years, creating continuity, depth of knowledge and a genuine sense of responsibility for the work we do. We combine the values of a family led organisation with the capability and resources of a global group, and that balance is something our customers consistently recognise and trust.
What do you like about the industry?
The lifting industry is incredibly diverse, technically challenging and fundamentally safety driven, which is what makes it so rewarding. No two days are ever the same. We support a wide range of industries, each with its own operational challenges, environments and risks, which is what makes it so rewarding.
What I appreciate most is the level of responsibility involved. Lifting equipment must be safe, compliant and reliable every single time it is used. There is no margin for shortcuts or complacency. That reality drives a strong culture of professionalism, diligence and pride throughout the industry.
There is also a keen sense of community within the lifting sector. People genuinely care about raising standards, sharing knowledge and improving safety across the board. Industry events, collaboration and open dialogue all help push the sector forward and ensure best practice is continually evolving.
I’m particularly encouraged by the direction the industry is heading. There is growing recognition that safety isn’t just about the equipment itself – it’s about competence, engineering quality, proactive maintenance and reducing risk at source. This broader, more holistic approach aligns perfectly with how we are evolving as a business and how I believe the industry must continue to develop.
Why should people want to join and work in this industry?
GLAD – Global Lifting Awareness Day – does an excellent job of highlighting the opportunities within the lifting industry. It promotes the importance of lifting operations and shines a light on the skilled professionals behind them. I strongly believe in that message, because I am living proof of what the industry can offer.
I joined with no experience and built a long-term career through training, development, curiosity and a commitment to safety. The lifting industry offers clear progression routes, from hands-on technical roles through to engineering, inspections, training, fabrication, safety management and leadership positions.
The work also has real purpose. Competent lifting professionals help prevent accidents, protect people and keep businesses operating safely. Because lifting operations are essential and regulated, the industry offers long term stability and security for those working within it.
At Carl Stahl, we actively support the principles behind GLAD by investing in competence development, training and raising awareness of the importance of safe lifting. For anyone looking for a career with meaning, progression and long-term prospects, the lifting industry offers exactly that.
What are your expectations for the industry going forward? Any trends or challenges?
The lifting industry is evolving, and several key trends are becoming increasingly clear. Competence is becoming more important than ever as lifting environments grow more complex and expectations around safety continue to rise.
Customers are also increasingly looking for integrated service models. Rather than managing multiple suppliers, they want a single trusted partner who can support them across engineering, equipment supply, inspections, repairs, and training. This shift aligns closely with our long term strategy.
There is continued growth in demand for bespoke engineered solutions, as more industries adopt specialised processes requiring lifting equipment designed specifically for their operations. Digitalisation is another growing influence, with digital inspections, reporting and life cycle monitoring helping organisations manage equipment more proactively.
Attracting and developing talent remains a challenge across the industry, but initiatives like GLAD are playing a significant role in raising awareness and encouraging people to consider lifting as a viable and rewarding career. Companies that support customers holistically and invest in people will be best placed to succeed.
Are there any projects or initiatives your company is working on that you’re excited about?
There is a great deal happening within the business that I’m genuinely excited about. Our in house fabrication capability continues to expand, strengthening our ability to design and manufacture bespoke lifting solutions efficiently and to the highest standards.
We are also investing heavily in our training offering, expanding courses to meet the industry’s growing need for competence across wire rope inspection, lifting and slinging, forklift operations, height safety and other high risk areas. Alongside this, we are strengthening our inspection and repair services to provide more comprehensive life cycle support for customers.
We continue to develop new engineered solutions for sensitive, irregular or challenging loads, helping customers operate more safely and efficiently. All of these initiatives support our long term mission: to deliver a fully integrated, one-stop, risk reduction focused service that customers can rely on.
