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Mark Hulse will soon be celebrating 23 years at Ainscough. Here we take a look at some of the ins and outs of his time here from 2002 until today.
I was 27 years old when I made the move from AMEC in Stafford all the way up to Ainscough in Standish. I was living in Stoke at the time and my partner and I made the decision to move in together.
Through the grapevine, I had heard about a National Hire Centre Team position opening at Ainscough Crane Hire closer to where my partner lived in Horwich nr Bolton. Fortunately, I got the job, moved to Chorley to be with my partner and in 2002 I started my Ainscough journey as a Hire Controller in The National Hire Centre helping to manage the company largest customers.
Prior to joining, I had spent time studying Mechanical engineering at college, working in garages in the hopes of becoming a mechanic. Time passed, and I found the cold of the garages wasn’t for me – and I found a home in the office side of things in the mechanical industry. The same industry, a slightly warmer setting!
In 2007 I took a promotion to become Senior Hire Controller at Head Office in Standish. At the time, we were a small team of five closely-knit colleagues, and we had our 15 minutes of fame staring in the BBC2 PROGRAM “The Crane Gang”. I really enjoyed my time in the NHC but in 2013, an opportunity came up within Ainscough’s Wind Energy Services (AWES) arm which I couldn’t turn down, and I became a Business Support Manager, a role I held until 2019.
Back at Head Office, I came across from AWES as Business Support Manager Following a fortunate opening, and a conversation with Simon Baines, I was able to apply for the Business Support and Commercial role. In this role I would be responsible quoting for jobs with our Regional and Heavy Cranes fleet.
Moving into the COVID era, I stayed on as a Commercial Co-Ordinator being promoted to the Business Support and Commercial Team Leader role managing a small commercial team. Throughout, we were like one big happy family. In October 2023, I took another promotion to Customer Support Assistant Manager.
My career thus far has been a shining example of how supportive Ainscough is as an employer. I’ve always been given opportunities to progress and expand my field of knowledge. I feel fortunate to be in such an approachable, friendly company with so many upsides. Over The years I’ve come to realise that its not the just work that makes the job but the people who I deal with on a daily basis.
Away from cranes, I’ve just recently picked up the drumsticks again – a forgotten passion. I also have a love of films and music, DIY and car detailing. That usually fills the weekends!
