A MANAGER went 'back to the floor' for the day to pick up the tools alongside a joiner he had taught 30 years earlier.

Keith Moulder, external investment contracts manager, was reunited with joiner Phil Owens in the repairs and maintenance department where he carried a variety of works from fixing a front door that wasn’t working to rehanging a sash to helping tenants locked out of their properties.

“Going back to the floor was excellent. It gave me the chance to see how well Phil had matured into his role as a joiner and I enjoyed all the different types of work we were allocated,” said the Thirteen Group contracts manager.

“As well as being able to identify and remedy any issues I saw, it was also rewarding to talk to various customers throughout the day. It made me realise that, for some, a visit by our friendly staff was the highlight of their day.”

Mr Moulder started in the repairs and maintenance department as a 22-year-old in 1977, working his way up from a joiner to charge hand, foreman, senior supervisor and depot manager before moving to the investment team based at Hudson Quay, Middlesbrough.

Mr Owens began as a YTS trainee footballer with Middlesbrough FC in 1985, but when it went into liquidation the following year he secured a joinery apprenticeship.

He said: “The fact that worked so well together shows what a great teacher Keith was. I think it was good for him to see what we do on the frontline, not just how things have changed over the years but also how we help the public in different ways.”