Leyland Trucks celebrates more than 1,700 years of combined long service
Leyland Trucks paid tribute to some of its most dedicated team members at a prestigious long service awards ceremony held at the Preston Marriott, recognising an incredible 1,705 years of combined tenure across the business.
A total of 67 colleagues were celebrated on the night, including 65 employees who reached the milestone of 25 years with Leyland Trucks and two more who have now dedicated 40 years of service.
The tradition of honouring long service at Leyland Trucks runs deep. In 1965, 1,500 employees were presented with gold watches from Lord Stokes – one of the original chairmen of the business – over a three-day celebration, a gesture that sparked a legacy of recognition that continues to this day.
Guests at the ceremony enjoyed an evening of dinner, drinks, and entertainment, including a magician, violinist DJ, and live band.
Mark Norwell, who works in the assembly engineering department, celebrated 40 years with Leyland Trucks. He said: “It was a wonderful evening, and a great opportunity to celebrate not only my long service but the achievements of colleagues that have become friends.
“I have always loved tinkering with mechanical things, like motorbikes and cars, so my dad who worked at Leyland Trucks suggested it would be a good fit for me, and I joined as an apprentice. More than 40 years on, it’s clear he was right. It’s a fantastic place to work and my son has just joined as a first-year apprentice too.
“Three generations of my family have now worked at Leyland Trucks, and that’s because it’s a family. They take care of staff, give you opportunities to progress, travel and ultimately, they create a community that people want to be part of for life.”
Dave Rimmer, PACCAR Parts assistant manager and 25-year team member, added: "The event was a great opportunity to get together with colleagues and celebrate our achievements over the years.
“I joined Leyland Trucks back in 2000, knowing it had a good reputation, a rich history and was well established in the community. Since then, I’ve achieved much more than I thought possible. I’ve worked across several areas of the business, , progressed to oversee a team of more than 120 incredible people and completed a master’s degree in business management.
“There’s a reason people stay here for so long – it’s an incredible community and the wealth of opportunities is second to none.”
For quality engineer, Nigel Bluck, celebrating 25 years is meaningful. He explains: "I initially joined on a temporary contract 25 years ago, but it was quickly obvious I’d be staying for longer. Immediately, I could see how well the staff were taken care of, the number of opportunities to grow and the different routes to do so.
“Long service here is something that’s celebrated, both at events like this and day to day. People stay for decades because they’re treated well, they have a job for life, and they want to build something long-lasting and meaningful for future generations.”
Managing director, Phil Jones, said: “These events are a chance for us to pause and recognise the incredible loyalty and contribution of our team. We’re proud to offer meaningful careers that span decades – built on wellbeing, development and a culture of collaboration and support.
“Having been part of Leyland Trucks for more than 30 years myself, I know how special this place is. Our people are the foundation of everything we do – and their commitment has shaped the business we are today.”