Happy New Year
Rafferty Steeplejacks would like to wish their customers, suppliers and everyone associated with the company a happy and prosperous new year. We look forward to working with you during our 68th year in business.
Level 3 Rope Access Technician Required
Rafferty’s are seeking to employ a level 3 rope access technician with working experience in the steeplejack and lightning protection industry.
For all enquiries please contact Carl Woodroffe or Alex Bradley in our contracts department.
Happy New Year!
Rafferty Steeplejacks would like to wish all their customers and suppliers a Happy New Year and prosperous 2016!
Nick Rafferty Achieves 40 Years Service
The year 2015 sees Nick Rafferty, second generation of the Rafferty family of steeplejacks, achieve 40 years service with the company.
At the young age of 16, Nick started work for the Company on 1 April 1975 as an apprentice steeplejack which, coincidently, just so happened to be April fools day! On his first day on the job he was tasked with laddering a 250ft brick chimney on Holditch Colliery in Stoke-on-Trent… At this point he began to wonder whether the date was really just an unfortunate coincidence!
Before the days of Health & Safety where ‘free climbing’ i.e. climbing without fall arrest equipment was the norm, Nick’s on-site training consisted of a word of advice from his father, Sam Rafferty, who pulled him to one side and said “Nicky… always keep a hand for yourself!” That was it, that was his training for the day. Thankfully, Nick never forgot those wise words of advice and worked as steeplejack for 6 years learning the trade up until a turn in his father’s health meant that he was brought in to the office to carry out more of a managerial role.
When Nick began his management career in the early 80’s the company was trying to grow and establish itself on a National basis. Before the days of internet marketing this was no easy task and could only be done one way… by knocking on doors. Nick travelled the length and breadth of the country in search of new customers and business and his efforts paid off. His natural determination, enthusiasm and entrepreneurship culminated in Rafferty’s establishing itself as one of, if not, the most well known steeplejack company in the UK.
After firmly establishing the company as a major player in the UK market, Nick then set his sights oversees. From the early 90’s through to the present day Rafferty’s have completed contracts all over the World in Europe, Africa, Asia and South America.
Throughout his career Nick has taken the company to unprecedented heights… please excuse the pun! Now with four grandchildren giving him the run around he is enjoying semi retirement and now only comes in to work when he needs a rest! That being said Nick was, and still is, the most treasured and valuable asset of the business and we would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his decades of hard work which will always be appreciated.
Rafferty Steeplejacks to Appear on The One Show!
Tune in to The One Show tonight at 7pm to see Rafferty Steeplejacks giving Santa a helping hand to climb down what could possibly be the biggest chimney he has ever encountered.
The show will also be available on iplayer 30 days after transmission.
Rafferty’s Receive Praise for Safe & Professional Conduct
Rafferty’s have recently carried out the partial dismantling of a 39m high steel chimney for Severn Trent Water at their Roundhill Sewage Treatment Works.
The following comments were received from Mr John Wilks – Technical Planning & Logistics Technician for Severn Trent Water on successful completion of the works;
“Can I just pass on my personal thanks for an outstanding and professional job that was carried out at Roundhill Sewage Works today by your employees and sub – contractors. I was overwhelmed by the professionalism and calmness of all parties involved on site today carrying out a high risk job in a perfect manner from start to finish.
To bring a gang of people together to carry out a high risk task isn’t easy and the guys today made it look a doddle. They are a credit to you.
Can I also thank all other people involved in getting this work done in a safe and efficient manner throughout. It is a good job well done and will ensure that our employees can carry on with there daily duties with this risk eliminated.”
Rafferty’s would like to thank John for his kind comments and praise all their staff who were involved in this contract.