Meet Ruth, our operations manager and lynchpin of the business
The Sign Print Identity team has grown fast since we began trading 12 months ago. We’ve gone from a team of two to a team of 11 in the last year.
So, it’s high time we introduced you to some of our brilliant team members.
First up, it’s Ruth Haunch, our ops manager. Ruth has been with us since day one and is the central figure that keeps everything running smoothly. We’ve taken five minutes out of the day for a brew and a chat with her.
How do you help oil the SPI machine?
That’s tricky to answer, because I do get involved in just about everything except the signs themselves!
I’ve been in the signage industry for 38 years and have worked with the Derbyshires for around seven of those.
As SPI’s operations manager I lead and oversee all aspects of the production and delivery processes from initial enquiry through to final delivery.
I oversee the teams, coordinating between our project manager and installation teams as well as helping Joe Senior and Joe Junior with the day-to-day running of the company.
It really is very varied – I will often come into work expecting to work on one thing and finishing the day completely differently to how it started. But that’s how I like it.
What makes SPI different from its competitors?
We give a really high standard of service. As a small company we’re hugely proud of our client roster and we look after them well.
Our work with them isn’t a tick box exercise, we give good customer care, take the time to listen and make sure their needs are met.
What fires you up?
The busier I am, the better I work.
Perhaps it sounds silly but if I’ve only got one thing on I might struggle, but having to juggle priorities and deadlines really energises me. The more I’ve got on the better I work.
I’d rather be under pressure than bored!
Describe your perfect working day
I’d probably have a real mixed bag of a day, combining team calls and meetings with some productive time on the business accounts. And there’d be an opportunity to jump on something unexpected that needs quick thinking to support a colleague or project.
Which is quite often how most of my days go!
What do you like doing for fun?
I have four gorgeous horses – Peter, Spencer, Milan and April – who take up most of my time. I go down to muck out the stables at 5am every day before starting work. And I’ll be back on an evening, too.
The horses compete at weekends, mainly in dressage and showing. They each have a show name as well as their day-to-day name: Peter’s is Ridgelane Pete.
It’s a fairly full on hobby but I simply love it.
