From a leaky-roofed workshop in Leeds to a global presence in over 30 countries, employing in excess of 1000 people globally, Corrocoat has come a long way. As we mark our 50th anniversary, Founder and Chief Executive Charles Watkinson reflects on how it all began—and the incredible journey since.
“In 1974 I was working for a company south of the river in London. I travelled with the waking sparrows on Monday mornings, from my home near Leeds, to Peckham in London to start work at 08:30 and back again on a Friday evening, lodging during the week in Greenwich Village. It worked quite well for six months, but then one weekend in late October I was needed to advise on a project in the Middle East and I could not be contacted. No mobile phones in those days! The following week, my boss told me I needed to move to London and made me a very generous offer to do that, but said if I refused, I would be fired. I thanked him and resigned on the spot. Driving back home I thought how was I going to survive with a large mortgage and two small children to feed. I determined to start my own company.
My wife was not impressed when I told her what had happened and said I should look for another job, but I was determined to go my own road. I contacted an associate I had worked with in a previous company called Glassflake UK Ltd and asked if he would be interested in joining me. He agreed and we looked for premises in which to start work. I chose the name Corrocoat and a week later agreed the rental of a building in Hunslet Mills, just some 400 metres from our current head office. Then on Friday the 22nd of November, set to trying to find work. I had some contacts with BP shipping and knew there were some of their pumps still in limbo from Glassflake UK going into liquidation. They agreed I could refurbish them and work commenced. The early months were fraught, but as each problem arose it was solved, sometimes whilst running around with buckets to catch the rain pouring through the leaking workshop roof.
In early 1975, Noel, my partner who also dealt in antiques, decided he was no longer interested and he was paid out, whilst at the same time Hugh, another previous colleague from Glassflake, discussed joining hands and we became business partners. The company was incorporated a couple of months later and became Corrocoat Ltd. And so the long and winding, sometimes tortuous, sometimes stressful, sometimes hilarious road, began. The company grew and grew, so new premises were required along with employees. The company expanded into the overseas market by one customer: Cunard, insisting we service them in Holland and so the overseas arm began expanding rapidly into other territories; Singapore and South Africa. And here we are today after 50 years, operating in over 30 countries, with a great global network of partners and licensees.
It has been an amazing journey and as more than one person has said, it would have made a good TV series. So, I would like to thank all those employees, some of whom have been with us almost from inception, along with our customers, for aiding me and the company to reach this impressive milestone. Thank you each and every one for your efforts and loyalty in helping reaching this goal.”
“I am also proud to say…THIS IS NOT THE END.”
