From Tea Boy to Sales Director

For the past 19 years, Richard Lee has been proud to work for Styropack UK - his loyalty and hard work was rewarded when he joined the Board as Sales Director in early October 2005.

"I joined Styropack when I left school. I was the general dogsbody/tea boy at first, but I was quickly given opportunities to prove myself. My achievement demonstrates the ethos of Styropack - it is a company in which you can build a career because success is rewarded."

As the UK's leading manufacturer of protective EPS packaging, and one of the top designers of other moulded foam products, Styropack has translated this approach into great success in the packaging marketplace.

However, in today's challenging economic environment, Styropack is looking to widen its product base and move into new markets, Richard is upbeat about the opportunities: "Companies in the packaging sector have one great advantage. The rigour that is required to be successful, both in design and production, can be effectively transferred across to other sectors.

"Exploring new markets and developing new products is a key area for me in my new role and one that I am very excited about. For example, we currently supply a designer who developed the LinksPutt, a superb indoor putting practice mat for golf enthusiasts. The base is made from linking pieces of moulded EPP (expanded polyethylene) - all designed and manufactured by Styropack.

"Our National Design Centre is working on a new range of safety helmets and we have other ideas in the pipeline. Our expertise puts us in pole position to exploit all kinds of new opportunities and to develop unique products using moulded foams."