Tayport firm marks 40 years of service

Jim Carson (77) and Robert Galloway (58), both from Dundee and turners at the company, say they are delighted to see an increase in apprenticeships at the business to take on their roles in the future since managing director Scot Kelly started the project to grow the company rapidly.

Jim started his career in the coal industry outside Edinburgh, before moving to Dundee in 1979 and starting at Foodmek. Robert served his time as an apprentice at Foodmek and has remained with the firm since completing his apprenticeship in 1979.

Jim and Robert manufacture a range of precision items – from the largest support rings for vessels to pistons and valves for food-filling machines. They say they’ve stayed at Foodmek so long because the firm has always provided them with a secure job.

Both are very proud to achieve their 40 years’ service as not many people stay with the same company for long periods these days. They were presented with gifts by Scot Kelly – a quaich, along with a voucher for a local jeweller.

Jim and Robert say they’re delighted to see the focus on engineering training to bring on the next generation to replace them when they retire - with the reintroduction of apprenticeships, which is at the core of Foodmek’s renaissance strategy.