The Journey That Brought Stuart to Rapid Welding

How many times have you thought to yourself, things happen in life for a reason?

The curveballs you’re occasionally thrown that you didn’t see coming. A sudden shift in direction that feels like whiplash.

Sometimes change isn’t a good thing, but every so often it turns out to be exactly what you need, right at the time you need it.

Which is exactly what Stuart found when the Air Products gas agency he worked for announced it was going to close its doors and cease trading.

A small, family-run enterprise, Stuart had been there two years. His role was primarily running the shop and the agency, but the reality was it was all hands-on-deck – if a job needed doing, whatever it was, you just got on and did it.

Taking over the agency business was a chap called Roy Edwards, who ran a welding supplies company called Rapid – you might have heard of him.

Times were different back in 1999. The internet wasn’t exactly up and running, so doing your research for prospective employment wasn’t as easy as it is nowadays. You saw a job in the paper and sent in your CV, or you picked up the phone. On a good day, you walked into the company and walked out 20 minutes later, hopefully with a start date.

Everything Stuart had heard about Rapid Welding and Roy Edwards was through word of mouth, and he’d only heard good things.

Finding himself in the position of needing a new job, Stuart decided it might be a good idea to give this guy a call.

At the time, Rapid Industrial Gases was a relatively new arm of the Rapid business portfolio, distributing cylinder gases and employing dedicated staff to oversee operations.

Jumping ship from his previous employment to start somewhere different wasn’t anything Stuart felt too upset about, either.

In many ways, he was relieved and excited about the change. It was a chance to do something different and take a step forward. A fresh challenge.

When Roy offered him the job at Rapid, he didn’t mind in the slightest that Stuart didn’t have a background in welding – it may surprise you to know that in the 25 years he’s worked for Rapid Welding, Stuart has never picked up a welding torch, and why would he? They can burn you!

What Roy recognised in Stuart was not only his vast knowledge of running a gas agency, it was his ability to be a team player. This would be a huge asset to Rapid.

Stuart delivered on all of that.

For six months, anyway.

At which point he was made redundant.

As with all businesses, there can be tough times, and while Stuart wasn’t exactly happy about the situation, he understood it.

Finding himself needing a job, he went through an agency and took on some factory work, but it wasn’t for long.

The value Stuart had brought to Rapid during his time there had made an impact. He’d shown that he was dedicated to growing the Rapid business, and he was well respected by everyone in the company.

In 2001, having received a call from Roy inviting him out for a beer and a chat – which quickly turned into more beer than planned and a curry – Stuart found himself agreeing to return to Rapid, this time as Stores Manager.

And it was something he was very happy to do.

This new role meant Stuart was in charge of organising stocks, preparing orders and getting them out the door.

And while it’s a role he’s stayed in, he’s never been stationary.

That’s not the Rapid way.

In 2018, Roy casually slipped into conversation that Stuart was about to face another big change.

It was a development that would affect Stuart’s role in the company, and most importantly, it would secure his future with Rapid.

Roy asked Stuart to join the Rapid Board of Directors as Director of Operations.

Certainly not what Stuart was expecting, but it was fantastic news, and Stuart was over the moon!

Not that Roy had given him any choice in the matter.

As Stuart recalls, it wasn’t so much Roy asking him if he wanted the position. It was more a case of, we’ve decided this is what’s happening and you can’t say no!

But there was no way Stuart was about to turn down such an honour.

It was an exciting step, not only for Stuart, but for Rapid as a company, too. A valued, long-standing member of the team, both Roy and his brother, Rob, saw Stuart’s elevation as a move that would strengthen the company and help lead Rapid into the future.

Said Roy at the time, “Rob and I are delighted to welcome Stuart to our board of directors. He is a long-serving member of the Rapid team and an integral part of our future plans to continue to grow and supply our customers with the excellent service and products we are renowned for.”

When asked what he likes best about working for Rapid, Stuart says, “it’s the way the company feels like a family.”

Most people who work at Rapid have been there a long time. Everyone knows one another. When someone new starts, they’re generally absorbed into the flow of things quite quickly.

And speaking of family, Stuart met his wife, Becky, at a WeldTech event in 2000.

Hosted by Rapid for suppliers and customers in Portsmouth, Becky was there as ‘front of house’, welcoming everyone in. When the team went out for dinner in the evening, Stuart and Becky got chatting.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Stuart said to a customer last week, “I can’t imagine working anywhere else but Rapid”.

And even though there have been challenges along the way, and many, many changes, Stuart puts down the success of overcoming them to the people he works with.

“Stuart is wholly loved by the team and universally liked and respected. He’s the best work husband you could wish for, we work so well together.” Marianne Edwards, Business Manager.

And as Roy says, “Stuart is the right man for the job. He’s grown through the business, and our choice in 2018 to make him a Director accurately reflected the role he was performing”.

With such a tight-knit team, Rapid can certainly look forward to exciting times ahead.