Projects manager and all rounder
We’re on a mission to introduce you to our brilliant team and this month it’s Matt Gittin’s turn, one of our project managers. We’ve taken five minutes out of the day for a brew with him.
How do you help oil the SPI machine?
I’m a project manager so that brings with it quite a mixed bag of responsibilities and tasks.
With client projects I take a project through from instruction to completion, managing the artwork and approval stages, the manufacturing and installation. And, of course, making sure we deliver a top quality result within budget and on time.
But more recently, I’ve also been getting involved with our recent premises relocation: there’s been plenty of new tools and equipment to source, acquired and install to keep our long list of order moving through the process!
What’s your background in the signage industry?
I’ve spent 14 years in the signage industry. Quite a lot of that time was desk based, with ops management, liaising with subcontractors, raising quotes and and ensuring the team’s training is up to date.
Over the last two years I’ve become more hands on with the manufacturing process, running the shop floor production element of the business. And I’ve been on the road, too, managing installations.
Working in the SPI team now, my role is really flexible, half the time I’m getting my hands dirty on site but the other portion of my time is still desk based.
What do you like about being more hands on?
Working with your hands, there’s instant gratification. Seeing a project through to fruition is a great feeling.
But I do like a mixture, so my current role is the perfect combination. It’s nice to have variation, a bit of both.
What makes SPI different from its competitors?
For me, it’s the service level that we strive to achieve. The team has got that important mix of a brilliant breadth of knowledge and experience across the team.
If someone came in with an enquiry and they needed help working out what they needed, there’d be someone within the team who would help them.
We’re in a brilliant position where everyone is very capable. Everyone’s good at their job.
In a small business like this, that’s really crucial.
What would your perfect working day look like?
Well first up I’d have a lie in, and there’d be no traffic on the way in!
I’d probably have brought the dog in, and had a constructive, relaxing meeting with the team (and the dog).
I’d have a really productive day, book in some quality orders, speak to a happy customer or two and generally make a success of it.
What fires you up?
Interesting question, perhaps it’s not really knowing in the morning what you might end up dealing with that day. What challenges will need a response and what avenues you might have to come up with.
In this field, and in my role, there’s a huge variety in the tasks that might need doing on any given day.
Being part of the growth of a young company is a nice experience.
What you like doing for fun?
All the usual things – taking the dogs for a walk, spending time with friends at the local and putting the world to rights.
