Blog: Meet Tom Robinson, Business Manager at GTK

Back in 2023, we interviewed Tom Robinson about his time spent with us on his work placement year for university. We’re pleased – and proud – to say that Tom continued to go from strength to strength, and he now holds the position of Business Manager for cables and I/O at GTK.

Tom’s career so far is testament to his hard work and dedication to constantly improve, while his progression is validation of our company-wide drive to invest in youth and guide career pathways into manufacturing.

We caught up with Tom about his new role and how he’s progressed since our last interview.

Could you tell us a bit about your role as Business Manager for cables and I/O?

In my role as Business Manager, I look after the budget for cable assemblies, connectors, and I/O product lines, which means a mix of commercial responsibility, customer support and close collaboration with our operations and engineering teams.

In terms of my day-to-day, I’m balancing customer enquiries, pricing, new project development within those budgeted customers and ensuring we deliver the right technical solutions.

My favourite part of this role is visiting and meeting customers – building those relationships and seeing a project go from drawing concepts to physical cables is very rewarding.

Having first joined GTK on placement, do you feel your role was a natural progression?

Absolutely! My placement gave me a strong foundation in how the business operates and where I could add value. Moving into the Business Manager role felt like a natural step because I already understood our processes and had built relationships within the team.

When my placement first finished and I returned to university, the company kept me on board on a zero-hours contract. This meant I could continue to contribute and stay in the loop of the company, which helped smooth the transition.

Having been very close to the operational and engineering departments allows me now to better understand the challenges they face, so I can try to get them all the information they need, before the jobs reach the production floor.

"What I enjoy most is seeing something tangible come out of the work we do. In manufacturing, you get to be part of the process that turns an idea into a real product that customers use."

What skills did you develop during your placement that have been most valuable in the progression to your current position?

During my placement I became more confident in communicating with various different entities, which is essential in my current role. I also learned how to manage projects effectively, which taught me the importance of staying organised and proactive when juggling multiple priorities.

As Business Manager, this is very essential as there are so many moving parts to the role and projects to stay on top of!

How else has GTK supported your professional growth and development since your placement days?

GTK has given me fantastic opportunities to take on real responsibility early in my career. I’ve been encouraged to grow into my role, learn directly from my more senior colleagues and take ownership of projects.

I’ve had extensive mentoring from the likes of John (Morath, Managing Director) and Matt (Eden, Engineering Director), who have been very generous with their time and support, which I greatly appreciate.

How important is that mentorship in terms of building your skillset and confidence?

It’s been hugely important. Having experienced colleagues to learn from – whether it’s technical knowledge, communicating to customers or simply how to approach a challenging situation – has definitely accelerated my growth. Their guidance has given me confidence and perspective in making decisions.

Tom Hennessey, the Technical Sales Manager, has been instrumental in my progression, as I have been able to lean on his many years of experience, especially early on.

We spent a lot of time together, holding regular meetings and catch-ups to check in on my progress. He is really easy to chat to and leads by example, especially while I was still learning. I am truly grateful for his time and patience.

Your ticketing system was a big accomplishment during your time on placement. Since becoming Business Manager, what are you most pleased about?

Since stepping into this role, I have been given the opportunity to make many things better. One example is the way that my department, with the help of sales, can best forecast to operations what enquires and projects are likely to land.

The forecasting tool I worked on has given us a much more integrated view over how and when we think queries will land, giving us more visibility over scheduling, the hourly impact that new orders could have to operations and what that could mean to the business’s lead time.

We now pull data directly from SQL databases, directly from the scheduling system and our enquiry monitor.

Based on the due dates, lead times and hours we put in, the new tool forecasts how many hours we think are needed in a given month. This allows the team to accurately make decisions regarding headcount in production, to maintain a consistent customer lead time.

A lot of effort has gone into developing a system that can be used to make crucial operational decisions. I’m very proud of the improvement that I’ve brought in this area. However, like most things, I could not have done it without the ideas of experienced people around me.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in your career so far, and how have you overcome them?

A major challenge for me has been stepping into a senior role that includes line management at a young age. I started in this role when I was 21, so trying to learn product knowledge as quickly as possible has been exciting but challenging.

Another test has been learning to manage competing priorities – customers, suppliers and internal deadlines don’t always align neatly. I’ve overcome this by staying organised, communicating clearly and leaning on the support of colleagues when needed.

It’s also been a bit of an adjustment making the move from the engineering department into my current role – going from a position that’s closer to the back end of the product timeline to being at the very start of every customer enquiry. It’s been a big change, but I’m really enjoying it!

What do you enjoy most about working in the manufacturing sector – and why do you think it’s an exciting industry for young people?

What I enjoy most is seeing something tangible come out of the work we do. In manufacturing, you get to be part of the process that turns an idea into a real product that customers use.

For young people, it’s exciting because the industry is evolving — with technology, sustainability and global collaboration creating new opportunities to innovate.

Now, with the likes of LinkedIn and the news, we get to see the applications that our cables go into. This is something I would like to share more, as I think it’s important for people to take pride in what we do.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of pursuing a career in manufacturing?

I’d say be curious and open to learning. Manufacturing is broad and varied, so the more you understand different parts of a business’s process, the more valuable you’ll be. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and get stuck in, because hands-on experience is the best way to grow.

I was chucked in the deep end straight away and it is very challenging, but in years to come you’ll realise just how valuable that experience is. I have massive appreciation for being trusted with responsibility so early on in my career.

It’s also important to be patient. Sometimes you’ll want to get too involved too quickly, but this can be difficult, especially if you’re comparing yourself to people with more experience. Be patient and you’ll get better – and you will get rewarded with more responsibility.

Where do you see your career heading next?

Right now, I’m conscious not to get ahead of myself. My focus is on continuing to grow in this role, building stronger relationships with customers and partners, and contributing to GTK’s success.

Longer term, I’d like to keep developing my leadership skills and increase my product knowledge. More exposure means more understanding, so I’m looking forward to getting involved in a wider range of projects.

If I can contribute to the overall growth of the company in terms of increasing revenue and profit, that would be great!