UK People News
Travis Perkins Colleague Celebrates 60 Years of Service
A long-serving Travis Perkins colleague has marked an extraordinary 60 years with the business - having started his career in the same month England won the 1966 FIFA World Cup.
Jim McCarty started working for the builders’ merchant in July 1966 as a 16-year-old and he still works full-time at Travis Perkins Trowbridge on Bradford Road. He has dedicated his entire working life to the business.
Jim started just a few weeks before England’s historic World Cup win over West Germany, and he celebrated his Diamond Anniversary with Travis Perkins just weeks before the 2026 World Cup final in New York.
He started life at independent builders’ merchant James Ladd & Sons which was then acquired by Sharpe and Fisher in the late 1980s before it became Travis Perkins just before the turn of the century.
Technology was limited when Jim started, with most tasks in merchanting carried out manually, and after an incredible stint, he has spoken fondly of his time working for the business over the years.
Image: Jim (right) pictured with his Branch Manager Charley Curtis.
Jim said: “The business has just grown and grown throughout my time with the company, which has taken several different forms over the years.
“I love coming in every day. We have some great customers in this branch who have been using us for their building materials for years. Coming in and having banter with them every day is part of the reason I still enjoy coming to work.
“My branch colleagues are great too. I love speaking and interacting with people as much as anything, and that is something the merchanting sector has given me over the years.
“When I first started as a 16-year-old, I did a lot of the heavy lifting, but now I am older, the rest of the team makes sure they look after me.
“I have spent my whole life here, so it is a place I have a lot of affection for and I have no plans to slow down just yet.”
Jim has played a pivotal role in Travis Perkins Trowbridge’s operation during his stint with the business - completing more than 120 stock takes in that time.
Carine Jessamine, Group Marketing & Digital Director, said: “To have worked for Travis Perkins for 60 years is an incredible achievement and everyone connected with the business sends their congratulations to Jim on what is a tremendous milestone.
“He is a great character and he is immensely popular with all his colleagues at our branch in Trowbridge.
“Six decades with a business is a testament to his outstanding commitment and he is rightly commended for his brilliant service.”
Image: Jim (left) opening gifts with Rich Lavin and Carl Mealey.
Travis Perkins is part of Travis Perkins plc and is the UK’s largest supplier of building materials to the building and construction industry.
Featuring a network of more than 500 branches, it supplies thousands of products and materials, including a tool hire service, to trade professionals and self-builders across the nation.
It offers a wide range of quality timber, building materials, kitchens, plumbing and heating, landscaping, painting and decorating essentials and tools for the job.
For more information, visit www.travisperkins.co.uk
Source : Travis Perkins
Image : Travis Perkins
Thank you for the excellent presentation that you gave at Woodbury Park on Thursday morning. It was very interesting and thought-provoking for our Retail members. The feedback has been excellent.
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