10 In 10: Jonathan Lupton, Operations Director At Econ Engineering

Jonathan Lupton, operations director at Ripon-based Econ Engineering, is the latest regional business professional in the hot seat as we give him just ten minutes to answer our ten burning questions.

What does a typical working day for you involve?

My role is very varied as Operations Director of a family-owned business. One of my main focuses is to oversee our hire fleet, which now exceeds more than 1,000 vehicles. I also make regular visits it our other engineering hubs in Alloa, Scotland, and Cardiff, Wales. We are currently developing a new additional site at Sowerby near Thirsk, so being involved in this is exciting and challenging.

What makes your company special?

The vehicles we make and the people who make them. The majority of the vehicles we manufacturer are tailor-made to our customers’ needs and will go out of our way to ensure we meet their requirements. I am very proud of how we have grown organically as a business over the years, the number of vehicles we hire out each year to customers is testament to the amazing team we have ensuring we provide top levels of customer service. We employ more than 250 people, and each and every one of them is a valued member of the team.

Do you have any business rules that you swear by?

I am pretty hands on within the business, but I always aim to never ask anyone to do something that I wouldn’t do myself.

Do you dress up or down for work?

Working in an engineering/manufacturing environment, I tend to wear smart, casual clothes. However, when visiting our new £7m engineering hub neat Thirsk which is under construction, it’s often a pair of wellies as we head onto winter!

What piece of advice would you give to your 18-year-old self?

Passing exams, school grades and not going to university won’t stop you achieving if you work hard and seize opportunities.

What’s your favourite Yorkshire venue for an event or team away day?

We have over the past 15 years restored a number of vintage machines including tractors and hedge cutters, as my father first developed these well over 50 years ago. That is actually how the company started. A group of Econ employees worked on the restoration of these and we call it the ‘Show Team’. We thoroughly enjoy annual weekends away at Masham and Hunton Steam Rallies. Fabulous local Yorkshire events that we are proud to support.

How do you prefer to travel for business?

I drive a Range Rover to and from work, but when an opportunity arises and the weather good I thoroughly enjoy using my Aston Martin. If needed, I put my HGV licence to good use and move any gritters across the country!

What’s your favourite place in Yorkshire to relax?

Sandsend, near Whitby. I’m lucky enough to have a holiday home there, and this is where I escape to most weekends. The beach is magical and loved by our dogs. A fabulous walk along the Cleveland Way to Runswick Bay is one of my favourites.

Where is your favourite place to eat in Yorkshire, and what dish do you recommend?

It would have to be Trenchers in Whitby. It is a beautiful fish restaurant on the harbour front, using freshly landed fish from the East Coast. They also have a sister restaurant called The Crab & Lobster, located just off the A19 at Asenby, near Thirsk, which is always worth a visit!

What do you miss most about Yorkshire when you are away?

Plenty – country walks with the dogs, the rugged beauty of the North Yorkshire coast, the people, and a pint of Yorkshire ale, ideally Theakston’s, hand-pulled in a traditional Yorkshire pub.