Welcome to the second instalment of our blog series marking Suretank’s 30^th anniversary. Last week, we sat down with Managing Director Martin Winters to look back at the pivotal people and moments – including a game of golf – that led to the success of Suretank. One thing that stood out from that conversation was the people. Today, Dymphna Conlon, People and Organisation Development Manager (P&OD), shares her insights into Suretank’s people-first approach.

At the heart of any organisation are the people and this is particularly true in the case of Suretank. It doesn’t matter if you are the Managing Director or a student on work placement, everyone has a meaningful, integral role to play and everyone matters.

We live by the belief that anyone can become anything in our organisation. Underpinning that is Suretank’s commitment to nurturing talent; we call it “Grow Your Own Timber”. That means fostering talent at a grassroots level and making meaningful investments in our people. It includes giving people the opportunity, support and training they need to pursue other career paths within the company if they wish. We don’t simply train people to fill roles; we immerse them into our team, nurture their skills and provide opportunities for them to learn and grow.

In 2024 we announced the introduction of our first bursary, providing financial support to a DkIT engineering student to assist them in their academic studies, while also offering them with a paid work placement and mentorship programme. In 2025 Suretank announced the expansion of the Suretank bursary programme to include two additional bursaries to support the next generation of engineering talent. The bursary programme has now been named The Tom Moody Programme for Engineering Talent, a reflection of the legacy left by Suretank’s General Manager, Tom Moody, who died earlier this year.

This builds on the company’s earlier announcement in February this year to create 80 new jobs in the Louth region, reinforcing its commitment to local investment and fuelling continued business growth. These new starters will support our current strategic growth plan.  At Suretank, we have not just built a workplace, we have created a community. Our people are connected by a shared bond that we work hard to maintain.

Staying Connected: Strengthening Bonds with Our People and Community

We have several locations across Louth, comprising of our HQ and manufacturing facilities, but we are all part of the same team and it’s important to us that we reflect that in our culture. Engaging our team through openness, honesty, and shared purpose is a powerful leadership approach which we strive to bring to life day-to-day in our organisation. We make a point of knowing our own people.

People & Organisation Development isn’t just our department’s name, it reflects who we are and what we do every single day.

We are dedicated to unlocking potential, enabling growth, and shaping a culture where people and performance thrive together.  

As part of our mission to ensure every employee is engaged every day, the senior management team makes regular onsite visits to our manufacturing facilities. We stay connected and accessible to everyone, regardless of where they are located.  

This focus on cohesion and inclusion helps us to be a diverse, multicultural organisation. For example, when recently selecting our new HRIS, it was essential that the platform support multiple language options. This ensures that employees can access information in their native language, promoting clear communication and inclusivity across our culturally diverse workforce. Similarly, we are a proud multigenerational organisation, where fathers, sons, and neighbours of all ages work side by side, sharing knowledge, experiences, and a strong sense of community. Having this diverse network of people allows us to see and discuss different perspectives. It is part of our identity and something we take tremendous pride in.

So, from a small, rented workshop in Dundalk with just 10-12 employees to the thriving global operation we have built today, Suretank has come a long way.  With customers in 23 countries spanning eight industries, we have scaled from humble beginnings into a thriving international powerhouse.  All this has been made possible by the dedication of our incredible team, our loyal customers and the unwavering support of our local community. As we celebrate this milestone, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been a part of our journey. We look forward to continuing our expansion and being a workplace that people are proud to be a part of, far beyond the next 30 years.

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