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Duncan Ray celebrates 25 years of service

  Wednesday, 06 November 2024 11:57
Duncan pictured middle after meeting HRH The Princess Royal last November Duncan pictured middle after meeting HRH The Princess Royal last November

November sees Focus SB celebrating 25 years of service achieved by Mr Duncan Ray, our Head of Strategic Partnerships who joined us in 1999.

Duncan, who has held positions in purchasing, internal auditing, health and safety, and quality management with progression into senior management in 2016 as Supply Chain & New Product Introduction Manager, holds full membership of The Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS). Overseeing new product development and launch, accreditation processes, international marketing and networking, in April 2024 Duncan joined the Department for Business and Trade Export Champions’ programme representing Southern England 2024/25 alongside our MD.

Mr Gary Stevens, MD, presents Mr Ray with a Tissot gold and silver watch

Mr Gary Stevens, our MD, who was delighted to present Mr Ray with a Tissot gold and silver watch and congratulate him on behalf of all of us at Focus SB said: “It was a great pleasure for me to award this gift to Duncan in recognition of his 25 years of service, and in particular his contribution to our success in China and developing our industry partnerships. We are fortunate at Focus SB to have a loyal workforce with a significant number of employees with over 25 years service, some with 40 years and one member of staff, Mr Nick Howe, recently celebrating an unprecedented 50 years!”

A historic moment for our industry saw Focus SB become the first and only British (and European) premium electrical wiring accessories brand to be granted a licence to manufacture outside of mainland China in 2017, selling directly into China's multi-million dollar hospitality and high-end residential construction marketplace, with Mr Ray securing Focus SB’s successful entry into major design centres and construction supply chains in mainland China. This achievement was recognised by our success in the International Trade category in the first ever King’s Awards for Enterprise in April 2023 which saw HRH The Princess Royal visit us last November to present us with the crystal engraved winner trophy and unveil a commemorative plaque manufactured by us in-house at our factory in St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex.

Mr Ray regularly gives presentations at DBT events to showcase Focus SB’s export journey, contributes to DBT roundtables and supports local Careers East Sussex events. Earlier this year in March, Mr Ray was invited to speak at a first-ever manufacturing event ‘The Future of Manufacturing: The Route to Industry 4.0’ at the East Sussex College & OHM Energy Green Training Hub, and in September he joined a policy discussion at the Liberal Democrat Party Conference facilitated by The Manufacturer’s Organisation, Make UK as a member of the MAKE UK East Advisory Board.

Media appearances include CGTN America, China Media Group international news including an interview with Ting Zhang, CEO and founder at Crayfish.io to discuss Focus SB’s experience in entering and expanding in the Chinese market. Listen to Duncan Ray’s full interview with Ting on YouTube ‘Doing Business in China beyond 2022 Expert Interview’.

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