Star in the Sty: Steve Hutchinson

At PiGs, it’s all about the people. Star in the STY is our way of recognising and celebrating those who go above and beyond to support what we do. Our Star in the Sty this week is Sobinco’s Steve Hutchinson! Find out more about Steve below.

Name: Steve Hutchinson

Company: Sobinco

Been going to PiGs since: 2017

Favourite PiGs location: Tough one, I really like Birmingham but will have to go with my home city of Manchester

Tipple of choice: Guinness in the winter, Warsteiner in the summer. Cold winters night, glass of 16 year old Tomintoul malt.

What’s the best thing about PiGs? Relaxed environment, where everyone is happy to talk, really does encapsulate, there are no strangers, just friends we haven’t met yet.

What makes PiGs different from other industry events? There are no agenda’s, everyone is there as part of the window and door industry and looking to either find new suppliers or get to know existing ones better. Also, you find people are honest about the state of the market and you get a genuine feel for market conditions it helps businesses feel they aren’t alone in difficult times.

Who’s someone you love catching up with at a PiGs event? You can’t choose a favourite child. 😊 I like to hear about lots of people’s experiences whether a systems house, fabricator or supplier, you can get a real insight into the challenges but more importantly, the opportunities we have.

Most memorable PiGs moment (either at an event or an event in particular)? First PIG’s event in Manchester in 2017 (you never forget your first time😊), only around 60 people at the event, thinking about this event always reminds me how much the PiGs events resonate with the industry and how they have now grown to around 250 people at an event and what a great industry we are in. Working hard and playing hard, as happy as “pigs in muck”!

Where in the world would you take PiGs to if you could? Ghent in Belgium, great beers, very pretty city and to show our European counterparts that we know how to have a good time in the UK and that we still are very much part of Europe.

Who should come to the next PiGs event (in one sentence)? A bit left of field here, but some MP’s to fully understand the challenges our industry has in terms of business rates, energy, lack of clarity around standards  and an ageing workforce that we are struggling to recruit replacements for and to help understand this industry is not awash with money and everyone is working extremely hard to succeed but with very little financial reward.

For more information about Sobinco, visit: High-quality hardware for aluminium windows and doors – Call on Sobinco