Stancold’s strengthened Senior Management Team is shaping a new phase of organisational growth, enabling us to elevate our capabilities and deliver greater value to customers across the UK. Our upcoming content will spotlight each SMT leader and the strategic value they bring to the business.

It’s fitting to begin with one of the most client‑facing roles within the SMT, Sales Director Matt Jinks. CEO Chris Honer, who collaborated with Matt in an earlier role, knew he was the right leader to elevate our sales strategy and deepen client engagement across the sector.

Matt brings sales leadership experience from both multinational organisations and smaller firms, applying a consistent, disciplined approach throughout his career regardless of company size or sector.

‘An effective sales strategy begins with understanding the client’s viewpoint, ambitions and pressures,’ says Matt. ‘When you go out of your way to fully comprehend the problems your customer is facing, you can sell them a solution to that problem or a way to meet their goals, not just a product or service.’

Before joining Stancold, Matt held a global sales management role at GE and later served as National Sales Manager for Liebherr’s refrigeration division.

Stancold’s specialist markets were new territory for Matt, but the adjustment period was brief as he has a proven track record of quickly learning and applying sector‑specific practices.

‘The major point of learning and adjustment for me was understanding the sales cycle and timeline,’ remembers Matt. ‘In FMCG roles, transactions happen in minutes. This industry requires a slower, more calculated and technical approach to selling a solution. And rightfully so, as these are major capital expenditure projects for our customers.’

Matt’s priority at Stancold has been gaining a clear understanding of the operational challenges for customers and aligning them with the capabilities of our composite partitioning solutions.

It was Matt’s client‑focused approach that inspired him to start a business with a GE colleague, bridging the time between his sales leadership positions at GE and Liebherr.

‘When my kids were small, I’d take them to soft play centres from time to time,’ Matt explains. ‘The experience was lacking from a parent’s perspective. Whilst the kids would have fun it was uncomfortable for waiting parents. Watching other parents react similarly showed it was a common issue.’

Understanding the difficulty parents faced in finding quality weekend activities for their children, Matt saw an opportunity. As he moved into the next phase of his career, he and a former colleague opened Imagination Street, a soft play centre in Bromsgrove.

With a clear grasp of parents’ need for both engaging play and a comfortable place to relax, Matt approached the venture fully aware of the problem he intended to address.

‘Before we even opened the facility, we had over 100 bookings for birthday parties,’ Matt recalls. ‘We knew we were on to something.’

The business took off quickly, and three years in, Matt and his business partner opened a second location in Redditch.

After nine years, Matt was ready to transition back to a sales role, so he sold his share of Imagination Street to his business partner and joined the team at Liebherr.

As Matt has embedded himself within the Stancold team, he has championed a more creative mindset across the business while strengthening our relationships throughout the industry.

‘The hardest sale is the first one,’ says Matt. ‘The ideal place for Stancold to be is our client’s first call for partitioning issues at their facilities. The SMT is shaping a delivery model that encourages customers to return.’

Matt continues to encourage his team and the wider business to investigate additional problems and challenges facing UK facilities that Stancold’s composite panel packages could solve. A perfect example is the project Stancold is undertaking in Melksham, utilising the Sonocore acoustic panel system to provide a noise control solution.

Outside of work, Matt is a very active parent, with three kids. His parenting style echoes his professional approach, continually creating memorable experiences with his children.

He has also always, in one way or another, been heavily involved in football, currently serving as Commercial Manager for Meadow Park FC in his hometown of Bromsgrove. In addition to football, he’s an avid golfer. Everyone in the Stancold office has been told the story of his recent hole-in-one!

With Matt now leading the sales function, his strategic vision will undoubtedly elevate Stancold’s growth trajectory and open doors into new sectors.

Stancold’s ongoing development brings fresh expertise to the team, continuing with our new Project Manager, Gareth Scanlon.

Backed by considerable project management expertise, Gareth has delivered successful projects across a range of industries.

After launching his career in the printing industry straight from college, Gareth progressed to a managerial role and then moved his management expertise into another field. Project management proved a natural fit given his experience managing teams and working closely with clients, leading him to a Project Manager role with a retail refit contractor.

Gareth’s organisation would handle entire internal construction projects in large stores such as Tesco, B&Q and Marks and Spencer. As a Project Manager, Gareth was responsible for coordinating with the various stakeholders on the client’s team, such as store managers, department managers and corporate property managers, as well as the different contractors brought in to handle specific project elements.

‘Project management is ultimately about managing people and expectations,’ he remembers. ‘Those skills apply regardless of the sector.’

After a long tenure in refit, first as project manager and later as contracts manager, Gareth was ready for a change and moved to a new industry to apply his skills. The solar industry came calling, and he joined a residential fit-out contractor.

In that role, he led multi‑trade teams, managed expectations across homeowners, housing associations and supply partners, and ensured projects met tight timelines, quality standards and health‑and‑safety requirements.

‘Local councils were working to make homes within housing associations more energy efficient by installing better insulation and solar panels,’ he explains. ‘My company would carry out the work on the various councils’ behalf, helping them to reduce their overall carbon emissions.’

Following the conclusion of multiple solar installation projects in South Wales, the company offered Gareth a London-based role. Not wanting to manage a tricky London commute during the week, he kept his eye out for exciting project management roles near South Wales, and that’s how he came across Stancold.

‘My experience with internal projects on active sites tied directly to Stancold’s work,’ says Gareth. ‘Of course, the scope is slightly different, but it is still managing all the moving parts of a complex project to ensure the client is happy and their goals are met.’

Gareth joined Stancold at the beginning of a pivotal and exciting time! As he settled in, Stancold’s Senior Management Team was introduced, and departments were restructured to follow the customer journey.

‘The recent changes provide project managers with a stronger support structure,’ he explains. ‘The communication between project managers and the sales team is better than ever with the recent changes, ensuring the smoothest process for our clients.’

Outside of work, Gareth is a keen Cardiff City supporter and often watches matches with his two sons. He is also an avid golfer, a hobby he shares with multiple members of the Stancold team.

Join us in welcoming Gareth to Stancold. With his extensive project experience, he’ll continue to be a strong asset to our delivery team.

With Stancold’s continued growth, we’re proud to welcome new faces who enhance our expertise and bring valuable new viewpoints to the business. Say hello to our Trainee Project Coordinator, Libby Pugh.

Libby has unique professional experience that lends itself to her role at Stancold. She previously worked at an animal research farm in Wales, and although she joined in an admin and HR capacity, her responsibilities soon grew far beyond that.

‘My manager left the organisation a few months into me being there,’ says Libby, ‘so I stepped up in multiple ways to help fill the void and assist other departments.’

The farm took on contract work, often with pharmaceutical companies, to perform important research.

During her time on the farm, Libby supported multiple departments, taking on responsibilities including supplier management, HR administration, website management, facilities coordination, supporting the lab team and assisting with animal care.

Before this role, Libby worked in an administration role for an underfloor heating company, a trade Stancold often collaborates with on industrial freezer projects. She also gained early exposure to the construction industry by supporting her dad on plumbing and maintenance projects across Wales and the south of England.

After two fulfilling years at the animal research farm, Libby was ready for a fresh challenge. The Operations Administrator role at Stancold immediately stood out, with many of the required skills reflecting her experience across different sectors.

‘Many of the people I’d worked closely with had moved on, and I was ready for a change,’ says Libby. ‘The role at Stancold was a chance to try something new and build on my previous experience’

In her first months at Stancold, Libby moved from Operations Administrator to Trainee Project Coordinator, highlighting both her proactive approach and the strength of the Project Coordination team. Her previous experience juggling varied responsibilities has proven a natural fit.

‘As Operations Administrator, I handled admin elements at the beginning and end of a project,’ she explains. ‘As Project Coordinator, I’m still handling those elements, but I’m also working with Ciara and Becky to make sure our installers have what they need to complete our projects efficiently and effectively.’

When she’s not at Stancold, Libby enjoys painting, drawing and supporting her sister’s nail business through social media management. When she’s not working on creative projects, she’s usually spending time with friends or embracing her competitive side at pub quizzes and karaoke.

We’re very pleased to have Libby as part of Stancold. Her first few months have already highlighted her adaptability and strong work ethic, as evidenced by her quick transition to project coordination.

Join us in welcoming Libby to Stancold!

While new team members have joined us over the past few months, our momentum also derives from developing the exceptional talent already within Stancold.

A strong illustration of our approach is the advancement of Ben Galey, who is moving from project coordination into a Trainee Quantity Surveyor role within the commercial department.

Since joining Stancold in 2021, Ben has spent over four years as an integral member of the project coordination team, helping project managers and on-site installers by managing the tools and materials required for efficient and effective delivery.

As Stancold was prepared to invest in Ben’s development within the construction industry, he considered going down the project management route. Despite having the skills and experience for it, he felt project management was not the area where he’d thrive most.

Over his time in the business, Ben formed a strong professional relationship with Stancold’s former QS Adam Wenlock, gaining valuable insight into the QS role and its importance within a construction business.

‘The priorities of a Quantity Surveyor align closely with what mattered to me as a Project Coordinator,’ says Ben. ‘When I would be involved in a project, I’d watch over the budget like it was my own. Not short-changing our suppliers in any way but finding rational methods to save the company money without compromising quality.’

Ben’s new role places him at the heart of commercial control, ensuring Stancold is fairly compensated for completed works and maintaining clarity across all parties involved in complex projects.

As part of his evolution into the Quantity Surveyor role, Stancold has facilitated Ben to join a five-year course in Commercial Management at the University of the West of England (UWE), setting him on the path to full QS qualification.

‘It’s a big commitment for me, but it’s also a big commitment for Stancold,’ says Ben.

Once a week, Ben has been travelling to UWE’s Frenchay campus for his studies. So far, it has been a general overview of commercial management in construction, but Ben is particularly looking forward to learning more as the course content becomes more relevant to his day-to-day role at Stancold.

During the remaining four days of the week, Ben has seamlessly integrated into the commercial team, bringing valuable perspective from his project coordination background and deep knowledge of how Stancold operates.

Join us in wishing Ben well on his continued development and exciting new chapter!

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Stancold continues to grow, and with that growth comes fresh expertise to support our expanding project portfolio and evolving sectors. On that note, please join us in welcoming the newest member of our Group Design Manager, Paul Steffens.

Paul’s background covers multiple corners of the construction industry, built over a career that began in 1988 as a Design Draftsman. His commitment to learning from industry specialists has shaped a well‑rounded and highly adaptable skill set.

‘Even in my early career, I realised the value of learning from people who had spent years in specialist industries,’ says Paul, ‘That mindset gave me deeper insight into every sector I entered and improved my wider understanding of construction and project design.’

After a decade in the industry, Paul moved into self-employment, a decision that led to a varied and global career. His project design work has taken him throughout the UK as well as to Spain, Ireland and Qatar.

Paul joined the Stancold team after a few years of being self-employed. Even though Paul has only just joined us, he has worked with composite panels before, so our materials and project environments are not new to him.

“Being self-employed is great,’ says Paul, ‘but you lose the opportunity to collaborate with other people in an office environment. Joining Stancold gives me the chance to both learn and contribute.’

Paul’s commitment to collaborative, communicative design work fits well with Stancold’s approach, strengthening how we work together and how we engage with clients.

‘Design is not a linear process,’ explains Paul, ‘collaborating with the client is like playing a game of communication ping pong. You go back and forth with the client to help them figure out the best solution for their specific circumstances.’

Outside his professional life, Paul enjoys landscape photography and often visits natural sites around the UK with one of his multiple cameras. He also took up guitar when he was a kid and played in multiple bands throughout his teens and twenties.

Please join us in welcoming Paul to Stancold. He’s already made a strong impact within the project team, and we’re excited to see that continue.

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As 2025 comes to a close, our team are ready to enjoy a break and celebrate Christmas and New Year’s with their loved ones.

Our last working day will be Wednesday, 24th December, and we will return from the Christmas break on Friday, 2nd January 2026.

If you wish to get in touch with the Stancold team while the business is on break, please use our website contact form or send an email to info@stancold.co.uk, and we will make sure to get back to you upon our return to work.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!