EDITOR’S PICKS
‘Here’s to you – Mrs Robinson’ Liz Robinson would much prefer not to be doing this interview
Rightly proud of pump manufacturer Landia UK’s 30th anniversary this year, Liz knows the ins and outs of those eventful past three decades, because she’s been there since day one. But as the epitome of an unsung hero, she politely grimaces at the very thought of this article and its headline being put out into the public domain.
In a humble converted outbuilding engulfed by some interesting odours from a nearby chicken processor in Shropshire, England, Liz bravely took a leap of faith in 1994 with Hugh Vaughan to see if the long-established (1933) Danish pump company could establish a foothold in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
“Living in the same village, Hughie and I already knew each other outside of our day jobs” explains Liz. “Hughie always said to me: ‘I’ll have a job for you one day,’ and true to his word, that’s exactly what happened. I joined him at a local agricultural supplier.
“Hughie was already selling Landia pumps and mixers, but he’d reached a point where he needed to move on, so approached Landia with his vision of setting up a dedicated business in the UK; and as they say, the rest is history.”
While on maternity leave at the agricultural supplier, Liz answered a loud knock on the door of her home, to find a typically forthright Hughie standing there saying: ‘I’ve done it! Let’s get a business plan together. We’re Landia UK now, and I want you to carry on being my PA.’
‘Everything else, and more’
Liz soon found though that she was (apart from sales), handling ‘everything else, and more,’ which 30 years later, she does to this day. This is someone with their finger firmly on the pulse. Ask a question about what, who, when and why at Landia UK, and Liz will almost certainly know the answer.
“I had to learn fast,” she said, “but to this day, I still don’t have my own office. For
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At the company since day one; Landia UK's Liz Robinson.
me it’s always best to be able to pick up on and be involved in work conversations with colleagues to keep on top of what’s going on. I can’t bear it if I feel like I’m in the dark when somebody asks a question. I never want to lose touch with the day-to-day nitty-gritty. It’s the same with our customers, especially when they need help. It is very important to listen. We’re a problem-solving company; not just selling products off the shelf, so with our enthusiasm for putting things right, we believe that there is always a solution.”
Keeping everything shipshape, while Hugh Vaughan concentrated on sales, a first month figure of £19,000 back in 1994 was a very encouraging start for Landia UK. Hughie was a very straight- talking man who fearlessly led with his chin. Liz’s role therefore also included the diplomatic task of (in the nicest possible way) ‘keeping him in order’!
A few years in, with sales and Landia UK’s reputation growing steadily and healthily, the company’s first mechanical engineer was taken on (Dave Baldock), who is still with the Shropshire firm
| June 2024 |
www.draintraderltd.com
today, and also happy to be very much behind the scenes.
Then in 2002, Landia UK moved into impressive, purpose-built Danish- designed premises, later to be extended for that all-important stock of readily available spares, plus a workshop and growing number of staff. Co-ordinating engineers, appointments, fabrication, equipment, spare parts, and the whole logistical shooting match once again moved the goalposts of Liz’s job description to something slightly more than that of being a PA!
“The move to new premises was a big investment for Landia,” said Liz, “demonstrating their total commitment to the UK and Irish market, which Hughie had built up, despite us apparently being the most expensive on any tender list. But as is still the case today, we will strongly argue that with our equipment lasting 10-20 years or more, we’re very probably the cheapest when judged fairly on total cost of ownership.”
Tragedy struck in 2018. Hugh Vaughan went on holiday, but never came back.
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