‘We’re Celebrating 8,000 Years of Service at Ford’

DUNTON, UK – Ford Britain recently hosted a special Long Service Awards event at Dunton to celebrate more than 200 colleagues who reached career milestones in 2023.

The get-together recognised Ford Britain employees who now have 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 years of service with Ford, and 102 of them came to Dunton’s Design Showroom to reminisce with former colleagues and to share their experiences of working with Ford.

Between them, the Long Service Award recipients have racked up more than 8,000 years of service with the company.

Ford Britain Chair Lisa Brankin told @Ford: “It is an honour to be a part of this event and to acknowledge and celebrate our guests’ careers with Ford. As we move into a world that is electrified and connected, we are still a business that is very much about people. Everyone who received a Long Service Award has played an important role in that business, so a big thanks to them all for everything they have done for Ford.”

@Ford spoke to three long-serving employees at the event to find out about their personal Ford stories, and how much the business has changed since their first day at work.

Stephen Simmons – 45 Years of Service
“I now work as a prototype mechanic in engine dismount at the build factory in Dunton’s central workshop. I joined Ford back in 1978 as an apprentice welder to get a trade because my dad said if I did that then I would have a job for life. He was very proud when I joined Ford.

“I actually joined two days before my eighteenth birthday having been a trainee at a pipe-fitting company and the first thing we had to do was queue up to get the free weekly dinner vouchers which were worth 45p!

“You very rarely see me welding anymore as I tend to get my hands dirty stripping down test engines nowadays. Personally, the biggest change has been using technology to communicate rather than somebody talking to you!

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working at Ford.  Even working in the dirty old and noisy Foundry was a pleasure because although it was hard, it was always fun. For me, the best thing about working for Ford over the past 45 years has been making friends for life with people you trust and having fun along the way. I wish it could last for ever.”

Alison Bell – 25 Years of Service
“These days I’m based at Dunton managing prototype tooling budgets, but when I first joined Ford it was on a three-month industrial placement for my Master’s Degree, after which I was offered a job at Trafford House in Basildon as a Transit bill of material analyst.

“I remember my first day at Ford in the summer of 1998, receiving my Ford badge and being introduced to the team.  Everyone was so welcoming and kind.  I still know many of those people 25 years later.

“Throughout my career, I have been very fortunate to be a part of brilliant teams with really great managers who have given me the opportunity to learn and develop. I’ve also been fortunate to have roles where I had the opportunity to travel, creating valuable working relationships and friendships globally including China, India, Europe and Turkey.  Other highlights were when Bill Ford and Alan Mulally came to Dunton to on separate occasions many years ago and I was lucky enough to hear them speak.

“The business has undergone multiple transformations and restructures during my time. Back in the late 90s, Ford expanded and created the Premiere Automotive Group. It also had its own airline and extensive property portfolio. However, when the major economic crisis hit, Ford had no choice but to streamline its assets to protect the core business. Fortunately, we weathered the storm, but that was one of the most challenging periods for Ford during my career.”

Vivien Taylor – 30 Years of Service
“I’m a Finance Manager for Ford Britain NSC Finance and I am based in the V-building in Dunton. My Ford story started many years ago when I had just left university and was looking for a position to train as an accountant.  My friend lived next door to a Ford manager, and he told me there were positions in their Business Technician scheme for A level entrants to train to become a qualified Management Accountant. I applied and was offered a place.

“My first job was in Payroll Operations.  I can recall my first day quite clearly. I started in Becket House in Brentwood and remember being introduced to so many people.

“There have been several highlights for me.  I worked on two accounting systems launches over the years and as part of these I had the opportunity to travel and meet many people through the organisation. I have been to many of the European NSCs, as well as Dearborn and Russia.  Although these trips were hard work, I got to visit places I might not otherwise have visited. Another highlight was meeting my husband who also worked in finance at Ford.

“Over the years our products have changed a lot, but so has the way we work.  When I started, I didn’t have a PC on my desk, just a dumb terminal for input.  Now I can work from home, collaborating with people globally through my laptop. One of the reasons I have worked here for so long is that I have been able to work in a variety of different roles and with great people.”