As you expect, the directors and founders of Celtic Sheepskin Nick and Kath Whitworth are talked about often, even their dog Alfie is making quite a name for himself! However there are so many more people behind company lines who are working just as hard to make the business successful. So I’ve decided to start a little interview process, perhaps one person a month, asking people who work in the company to comment for all to read.
So for the first “Finding Out About” blog, I’ve rallied Karl Headleand into answering a few questions. Karl is the General Manager of Celtic Sheepskin; the man responsible for the day-to-day management of the warehouse, sales staff and IT systems. What a challenge that must be!
How long have you been working at Celtic Sheepskin?
10 long years. Kidding of course, it’s flown by, a little too quickly if I’m honest.
What do your day-to-day duties mainly consist of?
Every day is different, it’s one of the challenges I like about my job. The main role I carry out is essentially ensuring each department is running without any (or at least too many!) issues. Not only on a day-to-day basis (it sounds so simple when it’s written down!) but also making sure they are prepared for the up-coming season. On the day-to-day side this means I look at things like the performance of the sales and posting department, reporting on sales and posting rates and dealing with the whys and wherefores of any problems, or indeed congratulating them on a stellar performance!
On the planning side I look at things like the staffing within each department, agreeing when and how many extra employees we will recruit, whether they will be temporary or permanent etc. I also work closely with Nick and Kath, the directors. Helping to decide policy within my departments, seeking ways to improve them for the coming years.
Also I currently have, but am about to pass on, overall responsibility for Health and Safety and the management of our ISO14001 environmental standard. This usually means I spend a fair amount of time reviewing the various aspects of each of those, ensuring that we stay compliant with the regulations and standards they set.
What was your original title?
I was originally taken on as a temporary telephonist, and there were only 8 employees back then!
When were you promoted to General Manager?
I’ve been the General Manager for about 5 years now; the role and scope has changed quite significantly in that time.
What do you love about your role?
Variety of tasks and freedom, and the buzz in the middle of Winter when we’re at our peak trading.
If you could have anyone’s job in the company, whose would it be any why?
Graphic designer. If I actually had the artistic ability I’d love to be able to use it every day. Unfortunately my skills with crayons haven’t really progressed since play-school!
If you had just one favourite item in the current summer collection, what would it be? It doesn’t have to be something for you!
The Skress. I bought it for Rach who wore it on a girls night out and she looked great. Not that I went on a girls night out of course; but before she went out she looked stunning. Not that she looked bad when she was out. I appear to have dug myself a hole here! She looked great!
What’s kept you in Cornwall all this time?
I kind of fell into staying here and then settled! Initially I was only working for Celtic temporarily whilst waiting to join the RAF. That fell through and I stayed on, enjoyed the work, met Rach (when she came back to Cornwall after uni) and bought a house. That said, I couldn’t see myself living anywhere else. I’m close to my family and a close group of friends, and of course Cornwall is a wonderful place to live. Why move away and only get to come back down on holiday for just a couple of weeks a year! I get to stay here all year round.
If you had only one phrase that you lived by, what would it be?
I’m not really a phrase lover but one that tends to come to my mind when I meet new people, particularly when the subject is not something I’m familiar with. "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt!"
And a couple of others - "All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy". Which is quickly followed by “Expenditure always rises to meet income” dammit!
So for the first “Finding Out About” blog, I’ve rallied Karl Headleand into answering a few questions. Karl is the General Manager of Celtic Sheepskin; the man responsible for the day-to-day management of the warehouse, sales staff and IT systems. What a challenge that must be!
How long have you been working at Celtic Sheepskin?
10 long years. Kidding of course, it’s flown by, a little too quickly if I’m honest.
What do your day-to-day duties mainly consist of?
Every day is different, it’s one of the challenges I like about my job. The main role I carry out is essentially ensuring each department is running without any (or at least too many!) issues. Not only on a day-to-day basis (it sounds so simple when it’s written down!) but also making sure they are prepared for the up-coming season. On the day-to-day side this means I look at things like the performance of the sales and posting department, reporting on sales and posting rates and dealing with the whys and wherefores of any problems, or indeed congratulating them on a stellar performance!
On the planning side I look at things like the staffing within each department, agreeing when and how many extra employees we will recruit, whether they will be temporary or permanent etc. I also work closely with Nick and Kath, the directors. Helping to decide policy within my departments, seeking ways to improve them for the coming years.
Also I currently have, but am about to pass on, overall responsibility for Health and Safety and the management of our ISO14001 environmental standard. This usually means I spend a fair amount of time reviewing the various aspects of each of those, ensuring that we stay compliant with the regulations and standards they set.
What was your original title?
I was originally taken on as a temporary telephonist, and there were only 8 employees back then!
When were you promoted to General Manager?
I’ve been the General Manager for about 5 years now; the role and scope has changed quite significantly in that time.
What do you love about your role?
Variety of tasks and freedom, and the buzz in the middle of Winter when we’re at our peak trading.
If you could have anyone’s job in the company, whose would it be any why?
Graphic designer. If I actually had the artistic ability I’d love to be able to use it every day. Unfortunately my skills with crayons haven’t really progressed since play-school!
If you had just one favourite item in the current summer collection, what would it be? It doesn’t have to be something for you!
The Skress. I bought it for Rach who wore it on a girls night out and she looked great. Not that I went on a girls night out of course; but before she went out she looked stunning. Not that she looked bad when she was out. I appear to have dug myself a hole here! She looked great!
What’s kept you in Cornwall all this time?
I kind of fell into staying here and then settled! Initially I was only working for Celtic temporarily whilst waiting to join the RAF. That fell through and I stayed on, enjoyed the work, met Rach (when she came back to Cornwall after uni) and bought a house. That said, I couldn’t see myself living anywhere else. I’m close to my family and a close group of friends, and of course Cornwall is a wonderful place to live. Why move away and only get to come back down on holiday for just a couple of weeks a year! I get to stay here all year round.
If you had only one phrase that you lived by, what would it be?
I’m not really a phrase lover but one that tends to come to my mind when I meet new people, particularly when the subject is not something I’m familiar with. "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt!"
And a couple of others - "All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy". Which is quickly followed by “Expenditure always rises to meet income” dammit!
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