The Greencroft Estate in Annfield Plain (DH9) is home to Lanchester Wines and Greencroft Bottling – sister businesses within the family-owned The Lanchester Group. Each is among the leading businesses in its sector, and combined, they are one of the largest employers in our area. Consett Magazine has been given exclusive access to meet the people behind the scenes who keep these businesses running.
Nick Crowther’s career began in Yorkshire back in 1996, when his ex-father-in-law asked him to help set up a forklift training centre for his customers.
“He had a forklift truck business and a building for training, but needed someone to run the process,” Nick recalls. “I took the instructor course and have never looked back.”
Fast forward nearly three decades, and Nick is now a registered instructor qualified across almost every type of forklift: counterbalance, reach, pivot steer, pedestrian machines, VNA man-up (including abseiling training for emergencies) and telehandlers. “I’d call it a passion” he says.
After the role with his ex-father-in-law, Nick ran his own forklift training business before moving to the North East to oversee forklift training for Nestlé. Nestlé closed its Newcastle site in December 2023, and the following month Nick joined Greencroft Bottling: “I applied for a shift supervisor role, but the team saw my CV and wanted to restart the forklift training programme. Right place, right time.”
Today, Nick trains and assesses operators from most businesses within the Lanchester Group, from training all existing and new forklift operators to assessing potential new starters. He usually runs three full days of training each week, leaving time for observations, reporting and administration.
Courses range from half-day refreshers to five-day sessions for novices. “It’s like learning to drive—you need to know the rules, but also how to adapt in real life,” he explains.
Why stay? “I enjoy the job. It’s similar to being self-employed, but with security. I manage my own time and work, and it’s great to be trusted without micromanagement.”
Celebrating his two-year anniversary this month, Nick has already issued more than 250 certificates.
Lanchester Wines and Greencroft Bottling are growing, and they’re looking for people to join their teams. If you’re enthusiastic, hard-working and seeking a career in which you can progress, visit their websites: www.lanchesterwines.co.uk/careers-at-lanchester-wines/ and www.greencroftbottling.com/recruitment
