FACE TO FACE
The UK’s Leading Glass & Glazing Newspaper
THIS MONTH: Mark Wilding, Health & Safety Officer, Apeer & Lumi Mark Wilding talks to Glass News about joining New World Developments – the group to which popular brands Apeer Doors and Lumi Windows belong – and how experiences in the military have helped to inspire a long-running career in Health & Safety.
IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU... Where were you born and live, currently? I was born in Bournemouth, Dorset and currently live in Antrim, NI.
Your education and the subject or activity in which you excelled? Physical Education was always something I both excelled at and enjoyed. On leaving high school I completed an Advanced City & Guilds apprenticeship in Carpentry and Joinery. I later moved on to a career in Health and Safety and completed various courses, most notably a Diploma in Applied Health and Safety.
Your favourite sports or interests? I used to play absolutely every sport going but am too old to
carry on at that level anymore. Watching football is now my passion, closely followed by playing golf (badly!)
Someone or something that inspires you? Throughout my previous career there were many people that inspired me daily. Most of these people went through life changing experiences and the way they all coped with that was absolutely amazing and so positive to see.
The temptation you can’t resist? I’m often partial to a good drink at the weekend.
YOUR CAREER... When and how did you join this industry? Health and Safety has been a big part of my working life. I spent 24 years in the military where there
was a zero tolerance approach towards Health and Safety. This encouraged me to advance my knowledge of the subject and complete various courses. Leaving the military nearly 5 years ago, I have been employed in a few different Health and Safety roles. This included consultancy work, both teaching and as the dedicated Safety officer. For the 3 years preceding my current role, I worked in Iraq for an American company called Tetra Tech. This was a project funded by the Department of State on a Humanitarian Mine Action mission. Essentially, we were there to help local communities move back into their homes in the knowledge that it was safe to do so and free from munitions. After years of working away it was time to come home and look for a new challenge within the Health and Safety world, which led to me joining New World Developments as their Health and Safety Officer back in June 2021.
The job you do in 25 words? My role is to ensure the company complies with all Health and Safety legislation, and to help make the work place a safer place to work.
Your greatest achievement? Undoubtedly, this has to be the birth of my son in 2007. Now aged 14, I do wonder if this is an achievement or a punishment at times!
that, keep trying things, and then hopefully avoid other mistakes later down the line.
The talent you would like to enhance? I would love to spend more time turning the bad golf in to good golf – even just better would do!
AND YOUR FUTURE... What you would like to do if you weren’t in the industry? Be a lottery winner
A particular ambition?
The mistake you’d like to correct?
I would love to move abroad and enjoy living in a country with more sun.
People learn from their mistakes. I think it’s important to focus on
As someone who was hard working, kind-hearted and always happy to help out others.
The way you want to be remembered?
If you would like to appear in ‘Face to Face’, or would like to nominate someone else to be featured, simply email chris@glassnews.co.uk. 42
September 2021 | www.glassnews.co.uk
