Mike Holliday’s journey to becoming the Managing Director at Holliday Fielding Hocking (HFH) is a tale of resilience, reinvention and continuously pushing boundaries.
“I left school In 1974 and anchored myself in Portsmouth for a seven-year tenure with the Royal Navy,” Mike recalls. His post-naval career saw him delve into the world of contact lens production with the Oral-B group in Fadom, Hampshire, and later, the realm of insurance with Irish Life. Marital commitments beckoned Holliday back to Leeds, where he joined the family venture of constructing fume cupboards—a pursuit he has steadfastly maintained since his mid-twenties. The 1980s heralded the career-changing shift, “along with four associates, I inherited the business from my retiring father,” says the Managing Director. They sustained the legacy, fabricating and dispatching fume cupboards to prestigious institutions like Imperial College and University College London. Despite a financial setback due to a client’s insolvency, Holliday’s indefatigable spirit spurred a revival of the business with his current wife, starting anew with minimal resources.
The duo’s relentless efforts expanded the company’s offerings to include safety cabinets and laminate floor cabinets, eventually bifurcating the business into manufacturing and servicing divisions for enhanced operational clarity. Today, Holliday’s enterprise not only sells and installs new products but also refurbishes and markets second-hand units, catering to esteemed clients such as Rolls Royce and Dräger.
Different Industries, Same Excellency
“HFH prides itself on its deliverance of excellency,” Mike states, and the MD’s steadfast commitment to such a standard is evident in his long-standing collaboration with Dräger, where he has been instrumental in maintaining and spearheading various projects. His recent engagement at Rolls Royce in Derby exemplifies his dedication to smaller, intricate projects that larger firms often neglect. Holliday’s willingness to invest time and travel distances for even minor jobs is a testament to his philosophy of nurturing relationships and laying the groundwork for future opportunities.
At the core of Mike’s role lies the pursuit of new ventures and clientele, a task he approaches with an eye for sustainable growth. The expansion of his office team to five and the formation of a broader network of subcontractors have enabled the company to secure its largest service maintenance contract to date with Newcastle University. Such a collaboration shows HFH’s ability to conduct the same excellent quality in standards across different industries.
Holliday’s consultancy work with Leeds University’s chemistry department further underscores his innovative approach to cost-effective solutions, favouring upgrades to existing apparatus over expensive replacements—a strategy not commonly adopted in the industry. This method of operation not only saves clients considerable funds but also ensures a consistent workflow and fosters robust partnerships across diverse sectors such as healthcare, automotive, and academia.
The company’s strategic importance is magnified by its ability to offer specialised technical expertise, often absent within client organisations. Mike’s extensive network is a valuable asset, allowing him to source the necessary skills to deliver comprehensive solutions. This versatility has propelled the company into new domains, including clean rooms, and has facilitated unprecedented collaborations with competitors for decontamination and equipment removal projects.
Holliday’s hands-on approach extends to engaging with potential clients, meticulously assessing their specific needs, and navigating logistical challenges to ensure seamless installations. His four decades of experience, coupled with a willingness to learn and consult with peers, even competitors, have honed his design skills, albeit with an element of risk. His enduring connections, fostered through industry events like the LEGS Golf Association, continue to be a cornerstone of his business ethos, reflecting a deep-rooted sense of community and collaboration within the industry.
Credit Where It’s Due
The accolades bestowed upon HFH are a testament to their exceptional customer service, something Mike has always ensured, “but I don’t have a favourite!” he asserts. Being recognised as the best after-sales service company in the UK is not just an award, it’s a reflection of the team’s unwavering dedication to their clients. The company’s philosophy is simple: be available for the customer at any hour, any day. This commitment has been acknowledged by trade associations and magazines alike, which conduct thorough research and engage with readers to identify the most deserving recipients for such honours. The process often begins with a nomination from a satisfied customer, followed by detailed questionnaires that Mike and his team diligently complete. These forms are a gateway to customer polls, which ultimately decide the winner. It’s this cycle of consistent, quality service and the subsequent recognition that fuels their drive to maintain the highest standard of customer care. Mike’s personal involvement, along with Sarah and Sean’s contributions, ensures that someone is always there to respond, embodying the company’s promise of 24/7 availability and setting a benchmark in the industry.
Ensuring the Same Excellency for the Next Generation
From a leadership perspective, how will Mike be remembered? It will not just be for his steadfast leadership but for also his visionary approach to embracing innovation and expansion. His tenure at the helm has been marked by a bold willingness to navigate uncharted waters, always with a keen eye on the horizon. As Holliday contemplates the future from the vantage point of a company in transition, his legacy is already taking shape—a tapestry woven from the threads of risk-taking and an unwavering commitment to delivering excellency. It is this legacy that Holliday is sure will endure, a testament to a leader who, in the face of the relentless march of progress, chose to steer his company with an astute blend of prudence and audacity. He aspires to be remembered as a pioneer who not only expanded the boundaries of his industry but also laid a foundation for future generations to build upon, ensuring that his company’s name remains synonymous with quality and innovation long after he has passed the torch. But that isn’t to say that he’s ready to sit out yet, “I’m one of the few remaining from my era”, Mike says. A fact he’ll be holding on to for a while longer.
