Going solo a boon for Ian

Jun 23 2008 by Karen Dent, The Journal

A FORMER Nissan worker has given up the production line to launch his own tiling, painting and decorating business.

After 17 years working with the Washington-based car giant, Ian Lock took the opportunity of voluntary redundancy so he could set up his own firm and have more sociable hours to spend with his young family.

“When I first left school there were no trades around, although I did want to go into painting, decorating and tiling. Sadly, back then job prospects were not that great so I opted for employment instead,” said Lock, from Sunderland.

“I have worked on the Nissan chassis trim line for 17 years and working the continental shift patterns made it difficult to spend quality time with my wife Nina and our 11-month-old daughter Emma, so I decided on a big career change and to work for myself.”

As part of his redundancy package, Nissan paid for Lock to retrain and he completed an intensive course at the North East Tiling Centre in South Shields.

He also received advice and a grant for marketing and branding from Business Link before setting up Castlemead Tiling, which specialises in wall and floor tiling, plus painting and decorating. He said: “It may sound strange to most people but I love tiling. I have spent the majority of my working life being a small part of a larger project, whereas my tiling, painting and decorating allows me to start the work and see it through to completion. Kitchens, bathrooms and conservatories are all different in everyone’s home and it is this variety that excites me.

‘I love working with my hands and it’s great to be a part of work where I get to see the end result.

“I really enjoyed my 17 years at Nissan where I made a lot of good friends and learnt how to work hard in a team, but now it’s my chance to work as hard for myself and build a successful business for Emma’s future.”

Although currently a one-man band, Lock aims to take on other tilers, painters and decorators if the business is a success.

The continental shift patterns made it difficult to spend quality time with my family