Following on from his ‘A Day in the Life’, Fuel Oil News caught up with Mike to find out how his career and the industry have evolved over the last half a century.
You joined WCF in the summer of 1976 as a 17-year-old. If you could go back and give that young Mike one piece of advice, what would it be?
Have the confidence to believe in yourself – and make the most of every opportunity that comes your way.
What has been the biggest change you’ve witnessed – and what has surprised you most?
When I started at WCF, the company had a small fleet of tankers operating from a couple of locations. At the time, my perception was that the market was largely controlled by the major oil companies.
Over the years, however, the market became much more decentralised, with smaller businesses taking greater control of supply.
One of the positive surprises for me has been seeing how smaller businesses have responded to increased regulation and continued to move forward, embracing new technology and finding new ways of working.
Over the last 50 years, which role challenged you the most?
Looking back, payroll certainly provided plenty of challenges. I experienced the transition from cash to cashless pay, the introduction of a four-weekly payroll for drivers, and continual changes to legislation covering pensions and tax. There was always plenty to understand and process!
Whatever role I have been in, I hope I have made a positive contribution and helped to raise standards along the way.
What’s one thing you don’t miss from the ‘old days’, and what’s one traditional way of working you think we’ve lost?
In my current Health and Safety role, I have to say I welcome advances in technology with open arms.
Technology can make a real difference to safety within a business, and that is incredibly important.
What do you think has stayed the same about the industry’s people, despite all the change around them?
I think it is their dedication to the industry and their willingness to accept change and move with the times. That has certainly been my experience at WCF.
You joined WCF in 1976 – the year of the famous summer heatwave. With weather in the headlines once again, does the increasing level and frequency of extreme heat create additional health and safety challenges for the business?
Yes, we need to be mindful of the health and safety of all our staff who work both inside and outside during periods of extreme heat.
Over the years, we have introduced additional controls to help manage the risks, and it is something we continue to monitor and discuss as conditions change.
What makes someone stay with one company for 50 years?
I think it has a lot to do with the people you work with and whether they inspire you. I have worked for and alongside some great people over the last 50 years.
I also believe that whatever job you do, you need to be challenged. Overcoming those challenges gives you a real sense of achievement and job satisfaction. From my perspective, WCF has continually given me those challenges, and that has been a big factor in why I have stayed with the company for so long.
A few quick-fire questions to reveal the man behind the 50-year career:
Tea or coffee?
Coffee – black.
One word to describe WCF?
Diverse.
Biggest workplace change since 1976?
When WCF started the change from being a cooperative to an employee-owned company in 1988.
One invention you couldn’t do your job without?
Probably the internet!
If not the fuel industry, what career do you think you’d have chosen?
When I was at school, I was attracted to the insurance industry. For work experience, I spent a week in the offices of General Accident, which was a big player in the market at that time.
One thing people would be surprised to know about you?
When I was at school, I ran for the county in athletics and cross country.
A thank you from all at WCF Ltd
Phil Murray, Chief Executive Officer for WCF Ltd, was keen to thank Mike for his incredible service to the business:
“Fifty years! It’s a number that is almost impossible to comprehend in today’s world of work. In the summer of 1976, a 17-year-old Mike Parker joined WCF. Half a century later, Mike is still making an important contribution to our business and, we believe, has become the longest-serving colleague in WCF’s 115-year history.
“Mike’s career has taken him through Payroll, Pensions, HR and now Health and Safety. His story reflects something I believe is very special about WCF: we don’t expect people to stand still. We encourage them to grow, develop new skills and embrace new opportunities throughout their careers.
“What strikes me most about Mike’s achievement isn’t simply the longevity. It’s what it says about commitment, trust and shared purpose.”
An extraordinary contribution
“At WCF, we often talk about being custodians rather than owners,” continued Phil. “Our responsibility is to leave this business stronger for the generations that follow us, balancing the needs of today’s colleagues and customers with the opportunities of tomorrow. That philosophy has helped WCF thrive for 115 years, and colleagues like Mike have been instrumental in making that possible.
“In a world that often celebrates short-term results, Mike reminds us of the value of consistency, loyalty and quietly making a difference every single day. As a partly employee-owned business, every colleague has a stake in our future. Mike has lived that ethos for 50 years, helping shape the culture and values that make WCF such a special place to work.
“Mike, thank you for your extraordinary contribution, your wisdom, your humility and your unwavering commitment. On behalf of everyone at WCF, congratulations on an achievement that is truly exceptional. Here’s to the next chapter.”
From all of us at Fuel Oil News, a huge congratulations to Mike on this truly impressive milestone!
Image credit: Mike Parker, WCF
