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Home > Uncategorized @qa > Celebrating 90 years of Altrad RMD Kwikform: A tribute to our long serving employees

Altrad RMD Kwikform is proud to be celebrating its 90th anniversary this year - a milestone that offers a moment to reflect on the people who have driven the company’s growth and evolution over the past nine decades.

Behind every successful project, every innovative solution, and every satisfied customer stands a dedicated team whose talent, passion, and hard work have shaped Altrad RMD Kwikform into the company it is today. Some of our longest serving employees reflect on their experiences and opportunities throughout their time at the company from the introduction of CAD to new product innovations.

The journey

Darren Careless, Global Product Innovation Manager recalls the very start of his journey, saying: “My journey at RMD Kwikform began in 1987, when I came in for a one week work experience placement while finishing school. After this I received a letter inviting me to apply for an apprenticeship as part of the Youth Training Scheme (YTS), which I was successfully accepted into.”

Julie Mahal, UK Sales Support Manager also joined the company from the Youth Training Scheme, saying: “It was an initiative that gave young people hands on work experience alongside day release at college. I joined as an admin trainee in Coventry, spending time learning the ropes while working on my administration certificate. After three months, a position became available and I jumped at the chance.”

UK Managing Director, Mark Pickard recalls his early days at the company when he joined as an Accounts Clerk: “At the time, I had no grand plan or clear path, like most 18-year-olds, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. RMD gave me a chance, and the business was able to sponsor me through my accountancy qualifications through day release – one day a week at college, the rest working on the job.”

Why long service?

Julie said: “Quite simply, it’s because this company has always supported me and I work with some amazing people. My managers have been fantastic and that’s why I’ve stayed loyal. I feel like they genuinely care about their staff, whether it’s supporting career growth, providing training or making sure that we have the right work-life balance.”

Darren said: “I think if you asked anyone why they stayed here for so long they’d all say the people. From the very beginning, the company has had a family-like culture, where colleagues quickly become friends. The support within the team has been a huge part of what made my time so enjoyable. The company supports career development, encourages innovation and offers real opportunities to progress.”

Mark added: “The business has always had a strong culture - it’s supportive, it’s collaborative and it’s built on mutual respect. We’ve always had the sense of pride in what we do and the willingness to help the person next to you.”

“If I could go back and give 18-year-old me some advice, it would be to be resilient, be bold and take every opportunity you’re given, don’t sit back and wait for anything to come to you. And to anyone looking to build a career at RMD, this is a place to grow. You’ll be part of a team that still feels like a family, but with the strength and backing of a large group behind it, that balance is what makes it so special.”

Moments to remember

Andy Broom, General Manager of the Central Services site in Aldridge, said: “When I think about my favourite moments at RMD Kwikform, the people are always at the heart of them. I have so many great memories of the banter in the old drawing office, and those moments made the working day even better.”

He adds: “Beyond daily laughs, travel has been one of the biggest highlights of my career. Working at RMD has taken me to places I never thought I’d see, like South Africa, Iraq, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the Middle East and America. It’s been an incredible experience to visit different countries and work on projects that have made a real impact.”

Denise Holland, Global Procurement Manager, said: “Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to visit our overseas suppliers, see factory processes firsthand and meet the people behind the names on my screen. Supplier relationships are everything in my role and seeing how they’ve evolved, especially with our Scorecard programme has been really rewarding.”

Mike Hathaway, Global Quality Technician said: “It hasn’t just been about the work though, I’ve always enjoyed the social side of life at RMDK, the Christmas parties, the laughs in the office and the friendships I’ve made along the way. I think this place has always been more than just a job.”

The evolution of the business

Mike said: “When I started, we were working with just a few core products, which included the likes of Steel Panel Formwork, Floor Centres and Props, acting as temporary support for floor and roof slabs, and then the RMD 500 Girders and Trishore Units for bridge deck support.”

“Now we have such a wide range of products. We’ve got Superslim Soliders, Megashor aluminium beams, ground shoring, access and working platforms, the list goes on. I think what’s great about RMDK is that it truly has become this one stop shop for our customers.”

Denise said: “There’s been branding changes, a noticeable increase in women in the industry and cycles of international expansion. Let’s not forget the range of product lines, especially in our ground shoring offering. Despite all of these upgrades, we’re still at our core, a company that provides smart engineering solutions, just on a much bigger, faster and tech savvier version of it."

“We’ve gone from the buzz of the telex machine to SharePoint, digital visualisations and now AI tools are changing the pace of everything we do.”

Andy added: “The introduction of new technologies has transformed the way we operate, making us more efficient and able to deliver on shorter lead times. What used to take days can now be done in hours and we as a business continue to innovate and stay ahead of the game.”