Gerry Rafferty retires after 25 years of dedication to Schüco
As Gerry Rafferty, National Commercial Manager approaches retirement we asked him about the highlights of his 25 year career at Schüco.
When Gerry joined Schüco in the late 1990s, the internet had barely begun, CAD modelling was in the future and Schüco was aiming to transform the market for aluminium façades in the UK with high quality German engineering.
Gerry’s first role was to be part of the specification sales team. He soon progressed to the position of Business Development Manager (BDM) looking after customers in Scotland and the North of England, moving up to National Account Manager responsible for the relationship with fabricators across the UK and Ireland, before transitioning to his latest role as National Commercial Manager.
Naturally that quarter century has seen many changes across both the company and the industry, but Gerry points to the constants that have kept him dedicated to the organisation: a great team of people, technical innovation within the organisation across the world and the company’s commitment to the marketplace and its people.
“Our fabricator partners tell me that the technical back up Schüco offers is a huge differentiator in the market. Everything we do is driven by technical expertise, every project is different and therefore providing expert technical support is such an important part of our offer,” says Gerry.
“Working closely with customers to deliver successful projects of all sizes is hugely satisfying and it only happens if there is really close collaboration between everyone involved.”
Over his time at Schüco, Gerry says that the development of digitisation is the biggest change that he’s witnessed. He recalls having to carry ‘a yard of manuals’ to every customer visit, a startling contrast to today’s technology that allows our customers to find everything they need at the touch of a button - our software and machinery is more advanced than ever before.
The industry has also seen significant changes. Gerry notes that where product specification was once predominantly the responsibility of architects, he now sees main contractors and façade consultants becoming increasingly involved in the design of the
façade and determining what products will be used. He believes the introduction of the Building Safety Act will prompt further changes to the specification process.
One of Gerry’s last trips before his retirement was to attend BAU 2025 in Munich, billed as the world’s leading trade fair for architecture, materials and systems, at which Schüco had a huge presence.
Gerry comments, “Schüco was the best at show. Schüco is always moving with the market and at this year’s BAU we presented a lot of innovations, particularly in the fields of renovation and carbon control where we are leading the charge.
“It has been exciting to be in on the ground floor of these initiatives and as I prepare to step down from my role at Schüco I look forward to watching how these innovations continue to evolve and shape the industry. Schüco has always been at the forefront of change, and I have no doubt it will continue to set new benchmarks in the years to come.”
As Gerry approaches his retirement, we extend our heartfelt thanks for his loyalty and dedication throughout his career at Schüco. He will be greatly missed by the entire Schüco family - colleagues and customers alike - and we wish him all the best for the future.
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