the interview
What are the biggest changes in the
printing industry you have experienced
during your career?
After all the years I have worked in print,
I am still amazed at the speed at which
developments in technology impact on the
industry. Manufacturers work tirelessly on
developing their machinery and products
and we must do the same in improving our
performance if we are to be the best at what
we do. The whole business is not for the
faint-hearted, and we must all understand
that demands will only increase.
What, in your opinion, sets Headley
Brothers apart from other printers?
Simply our diversity. Very few companies
provide the breadth of services that
Headleys is able to offer – web, sheet-fed
and digital printing; finishing and fulfilment
services; design and web design; mailing and
subscription services, all from the one site.
Job fulfillment
In addition, our technological investments
enable us to offer our customers systems
that will significantly streamline their pre-
media processes – HeadWay, our web-
to-print system; HeadStart, our online
Andy Owden, the new Works Manager at Headley Brothers,
file delivery system; HeadSet, our image
tells us how he gets the most out of every single day. customisation software and HeadStore, our
digital asset management system. In a nutshell,
When did you join Headley Brothers
Can you describe a typical day as
we offer a true added-value service to our
and how has your career progressed?
Works Manager
customers and there is very little that we
I began working for Headley Brothers in
My areas of responsibility include health &
cannot do for them.
July 1984, starting my career within the
safety, production output, staffing, site security
production department as a trainee order
and works maintenance to name just a few,
If you didn’t work in the print industry
clerk dealing with customers. These are now
so no two days are ever the same. With such
what would you like to do?
called production controllers. After learning
a large workforce and a huge amount of
I would have loved a career in media or
the ropes, I was let loose to handle my
machinery, invariably what I may set myself as television. I’m not slow in coming forward
own accounts before being successful in a
the goals for the day change within the first when volunteers are required, and don’t
promotion to the purchasing department
30 minutes of arriving at work. mind making a fool of myself if it makes
as paper buyer in charge of the warehouse
others happy.
and storage. During this period I successfully I could see myself as TV host or a ‘live at-the-
completed a two-year HND course at the
scene’ news reporter or alternatively, a food
London College of Printing, studying print
critic, spending hours in posh restaurants
production, technology & management.
tasting delicious meals. Yum!
I then moved into the role of Mailing and
When you are not at work, what are
Dispatch Manager before taking full control
your favourite pastimes?
of both finishing and dispatch departments
Tony Smith and Andy Owden
My family is an extremely important part of
in August 1999. Following 18 months in this
What are the best and worst aspects
my life and offers great strength and support
role, I was proudly promoted to be Headley’s of your job?
when work issues are a little heavy. I love
first ever Operations Manager, with overall I have enjoyed the challenge of being
playing with my two young children – they
responsibility running across both printing involved with such a diverse range of issues make me realise that I must make the most
and bindery departments, reporting directly and my new role as Works Manager certainly of every day – life is to short not to. I have
to Roger Pitt, MD and understudying Tony fulfills that. Days are never dull and even always tried to remain fit and healthy and
Smith, Works Director. Following Tony’s when difficult situations arise, I get great love all sports, including snowboarding, even
retirement at the end of July 2008 satisfaction when a positive outcome is if at times the odd bone may be broken
I undertook the responsibility of becoming achieved. The worst thing about my job? trying to achieve that ultimate speed rush!
the Works Manger. Meetings, meetings, meetings!
headsup 9
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