Hydraulics & Pneumatics July/August 2022

NEWS The team at Derek Lane & Co had twice as many reasons to celebrate in June as two members of staff, Mark Venn and Sam Darke, both walked away with prestigious awards. Sales Person of the Year Award Venn, Derek Lane’s commercial director, has been awarded the Sales Person of the Year at the Group’s annual sales conference held at the Belfy Golf club. This award is given to the person who has generated the most business above and beyond forecasted sales in 2021 and is seen as the most prestigious in the Flowtech Fluid power group. Venn plays a pivotal role at Derek Lane and has been involved since 2004, also part acquiring the business along with Rob Woodley, Derek Lane’s managing director, in 2010. In 2018, DLC became a member of the Flowtech Fluid Power Group and has gone from strength to strength. Mark commented that he was extremely proud to be the recipient of this year’s award but noted that this a real team effort across all departments at Derek Lane and it is the strength of the combined efforts in all areas from Design, Technical, Engineering and Procurement that makes Derek Lane and the Fluid Power Group a company that our customers look for to obtain their Fluid Power Solutions. Apprentice of the Year Award Additionally, Derek Lane’s third-year apprentice, Sam Darke, has been awarded with second place in this year’s Apprentice of the Year Award from South Devon College. For many years, the company has had a close relationship with South Devon College and it has sent over seven apprentices through the college as part of its apprenticeship programmes over the years. The company comments that Darke is a very talented and forward-thinking young man and has a big future ahead of him within the engineering world. Indeed, Rob Woodley comments that Derek Lane makes big investments in its apprentices and goes the extra mile to ensure the best quality training and education of its people continues into the future. “We hope that Sam will continue his journey with us and take the next stages of his career through his apprenticeship and to degree level,” adds Woodley. “We are very proud of Sam and of course with all of our people and hope that receiving awards of this nature shows testament to both our commitment to staff and in turn the quality of engineering expertise our customers receive.” Double celebrations at Derek Lane & Co 12 HYDRAULICS & PNEUMATICS July/August 2022 www.hpmag.co.uk Mark Venn (centre), Derek Lane’s commercial director, receiving his Sales Person of the Year Award at the Flowtech Fluid Power Group’s annual sales conference held at the Belfy Golf club. Sharing in the celebrations is Nick Fossey, chief operations officer at Fluid Power Group (left); and Bryce Brooks, chief executive officer, Flowtech Fluid Power Group. Sam Darke with his award for coming second place in this year’s Apprentice of the Year Award, presented at South Devon College.