Firm friends mix business and pleasure
Phil Smith came away from his time at Staffordshire University with more than just a qualification in business studies – he’d made a group of lifelong friends.
The 62-year-old attended the then North Staffordshire Polytechnic from 1971 to 1974 as part of his apprenticeship with Michelin, which saw him alternately attend college for six months and work for six months.
“I had been offered three apprenticeships and chose Michelin because I could get sponsored through college,” he says.
“Even as a student I was paid a full salary. I bought a brand new house, drove a car and got married while I was still at college. It was very different from how things are now.”
Phil and his fellow students were among the first in the country to study marketing, and they were impressed with their lecturer, Mike Clements, who had recently worked at British Leyland and brought a raft of real life case studies with him.
Market research
Phil, who met his wife Jill as a student in the Noah’s Ark, was able to put the theory into practice while working at Michelin, even having the opportunity to conduct significant market research for the company.
“I worked in various departments, including marketing, market research and advertising,” he says. “I undertook the market research in Scotland for Michelin which led them to go fully over to radial tyres. To be chosen to do this at 18 was marvellous and it was quite an honour.”
He left Michelin after he finished his course and became assistant marketing manager at a Stoke business called H Steiner Ltd, which had four or five different companies within the group.
By the age of 22 he was technical director of H Steiner Timber Products, and he never looked back. He went on to move into sales roles and became “a complete sales and marketing person”.
Having gained a wealth of experience, as he approached 30 he decided to launch his own business selling computerised electronic weighing equipment.
He ran the company for three years before deciding to move into computers – and he then stayed in the computer industry for 30 years.
“I thought that going from paper to computers would release people to go on to more rewarding tasks, and I’ve been trying to live that down ever since,” he says.
“I have always been a visionary – I’ve sold microwaves, millions of pounds of computer equipment and software – and I’ve run four companies.”
“My problem is that I have always been ahead of the game and jumped in early – and then others have developed on my efforts.”
Lifelong friends
Phil, who is actively involved in local politics and plans to write a trilogy, has always been able to turn to his circle of firm friends for sound business advice and the gang – including “Big Bad Bobby”, “GSL” and “Greggers” – still meet every February without fail, and this year was their 41st college reunion.
“My friends and I have been through all the industries in every walk of life,” he says. “We could have formed a consortium of talent and gone into consultancy. They are great men and women, and our friendship has given me a rich life.”
“My advice to students graduating now is to make sure you keep in touch with your friends and keep meeting up year after year. It’s really important and something to hang on to in a changing world.”
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