Born to an Irish father and a Scottish mother (“I’m thoroughly Celtic!”), Steve Sinclair lived his early childhood in Belfast before moving to Hampshire for his dad’s job in the Merchant Navy. Today, he lives in the village of Fair Oak halfway between Winchester and Southampton, though he informs us that he’ll soon be moving to a new house in time for Christmas. That will be a well-timed break!
Steve’s career has spanned 44 years, during which time he worked in a cable manufacturers, a carpet and furniture retailer, and even a family-owned clothing business. Most of his career, however, has been in the flooring industry, and since joining F. Ball 12 years ago he hasn’t looked back.
“I love the variety that comes with being a technical representative. Every day I deal with different people, from builders to architects to contractors. F. Ball is a great company to work for too; it has retained its morals as a family-owned business despite its huge successes.”
As technical representative for the South, Steve is the first point of contact for customers in areas including Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Brighton and the Channel Islands, giving regular advice via phone calls and site visits. “I usually fit in around 7 or 8 calls or site visits in an average day, and between 40 and 50 calls in an average week,” he explains. “It can vary hugely; some days the phone is quiet, other days it won’t stop ringing!”
Sounds like Steve is quite the guru. We wonder whether there’s a particular issue that rears its head more than others:
“Moisture is a common issue, but most problems boil down to poor preparation. Products like our Stopgap 1100 Gypsum, for example, require specific conditions in the preparation process, so not following the instructions can lead to issues later on. It’s a bit of a bugbear at times, but it’s all part of the job!”
Outside of work, Steve is a big fan of sports and regularly enjoys watching football, cricket and rugby. “I’m the chairman, manager and coach of my local football club, and I used to play with them well into my 50s. I get great pleasure from the football, and the social side is an added bonus. I’ve always loved sport; perhaps were I not in the flooring trade, I would have tried my hand at sports journalism.”
Very impressive! Sporting achievements aside, is there anything else Steve is particularly proud of?
“I’ve had a good life so far, and I’ve enjoyed reasonable success in my work. I’m very proud of my 23-year-old daughter, Grace, and for being happily married to my wife Debs for 35 years. That’s an achievement, isn’t it?!”
We definitely think so!