the interview
What is the best thing about your
job and the worst!
The best thing is definitely the diversity of
my role. I have retained three of my clients
from my previous life in sales and this means
that I organise my week between managing
purchasing and ensuring my clients are happy.
The worst thing is the constant supply of
homemade ‘flapjacks’ that Karl (Deputy
Production Manager) keeps supplying, as
I simply cannot refuse!
What are the biggest changes in the
printing industry you have experienced
Waste away
during your career?
Without doubt it has to be the advent
of digital workflows. Four-colour film seems
a very distant memory.
What trends have you experienced
over the last few years, in terms of
your customers’ paper preferences?
It probably has to be the demand for
environmental papers. Our usage of recycled,
FSC and PEFC paper has certainly increased
steadily over the last few years.
What future changes can you foresee in the
paper industry that will have a direct effect
on publishers – beneficial or otherwise.
Unfortunately we have seen price increases
over the last few months, along with Sterling
struggling against the Euro. This has made
selling paper to the UK less attractive to
the European paper manufacturers. There
have also been a lot of mill closures. These
activities will have a long-term effect on
supply and demand.
Paper view
What sets Headley Brothers apart
from other printers?
A great blend of stability and innovation.
We have the benefit of over 128 years
experience, combined with our ongoing
investment in future technologies to
complement our existing services.
Paul Palmer, Paper Manager at Headley Brothers,
describes how he plans for the future and dreams
If you didn’t work in the print industry
of enjoying a sporting life.
what would you like to do and what are
your favourite pastimes?
Something in the sporting world would be
When did you join Headley Brothers and how has your career progressed?
great. I’m still waiting for a late call-up into
After a brief spell in the building industry, I worked for a well-known supermarket as a
the squad for this year’s Lions tour of South
warehousing and logistics manager. My career started at Headley Brothers in 1995 in the
Africa! I manage both my sons’ football teams
warehouse. I moved from the shop floor shortly after and into purchasing. I remained in
(U10’s & U12’s) – it has a lot of challenges,
that role for approximately five years before moving into the sales department.
but is very rewarding. I also enjoy travelling
and try and get away with my family as often
I have since returned to Paper & Warehousing Management and am currently employed as
as possible.
Paper Manager. My main role is to purchase and manage all paper coming into the factory.
Do you have one ambition and do you
Describe a typical working day as Paper Manager. think you will realise it?
To be honest, there never seems to be two days the same! Currently, the majority of my Well, if Lions’ coach Ian McGeechan doesn’t
time is spent planning for the forthcoming quarter. call, it’s back to the drawing board!
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