In 1983, Ernie started work at Beverley Veneers straight from leaving school. He spent the next 3 years as a factory operative in the saw department stacking chipboard as it came off the saw, all cut to size and ready for veneering.
In 1986 he was promoted to chargehand in the saw department where he would be responsible for the day’s production of cut boards which was key to the production of coffin set orders for the various customers.
In 1987, Ernie was once again promoted, this time to Factory Foreman working closely with the Production Manager, Barrie Short, who he greatly respected and who nurtured Ernie’s career path onwards and upwards through the ranks of Beverley Veneers. Under Barrie’s tutelage Ernie was able to work in all the different production areas and was also trained to service and repair the machinery to keep everything running smoothly.
In 2012 when Barrie retired, Ernie had already been trained up ready to take his place as Production Manager. Ernie, however, expanded this role to include close customer contact, always ensuring that all his customers were fully satisfied with their orders.
In 2019, Ernie became General Manager, using his wealth of expertise on the factory floor, the office and with the customers. Today he has 41 years of service to offer a company he cares for greatly along with all the customers who he cares for just as much. Despite the demands of the recent pandemic, Beverley Veneers worked relentlessly for weeks on end to meet demand, never once letting anybody down. A promise is a promise in Ernie’s book, his word is his bond.