42 YEARS 

ANDY PROUD
IT CONSULTANT

22 FEBRUARY 1982 — Current 2024

Introducing our longest serving staff – Andy Proud

Currently working at the head office in Haltwhistle, Andy has served in a number of different roles within AGMA.

As one of the longest serving members of staff, Andy talks us through his AGMA career.

 

After studying Art at Carlisle and then Industrial Design at Manchester, I went to work in the Shetland Islands on the construction site of the Sullom Voe oil terminal – simply to eradicate the negative bank balance a student ends up with. When work was suspended for 6-8 weeks during the winter due to harsh conditions, I applied to work as a Purchasing Coordinator for AGMA which I had seen as a stop gap. Little did I know that it was the start of my 42+ year career journey with AGMA – taking me across many departments within the company and all over the world!

After 15 months, I was promoted to Sales Office Manager, which lasted 5 and a half years.

In 1988, with a heavily pregnant wife, I looked to increase earning opportunities, and became a self-employed salesman for AGMA – covering Cumbria, Dumfries and Galloway.

Later, I returned to full-time employment with AGMA and was made a Regional Manager, covering West of the Pennines down to Bristol, Slaugh, Swindon and Wales. This role involved a move of home, down to Sanbach in Cheshire.

After just over 3 years I was on the move again, relocating to just outside Carlisle, to take up a position back at the head office in Haltwhistle of Commercial Manager.  This lasted around 12 years before becoming the Business Manager for Corrosion and Industrial products which introduced me to the joys of long-haul travel. This was my last full-time role before in 2021 moving on to a 3-day working week as an IT Consultant. In this role, I’m tasked with optimising and automating AGMA’s process and improving efficiencies.

It’s been an adventure of a lifetime at AGMA, and I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to countries like Malaysia, Singapore, China, UAE, Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Germany, Norway and the USA. 


 And thanks to the AGMA ethos, I was able to progress within the company and have an impact that has real and personal meaning.