Mick Wagstaff’s remarkable 40-year journey

In 1984, Mick Wagstaff was a young lad of 19 years who, quite by chance, got his first full-time job as a labourer at a company called Bulroc that made DTH hammers in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England. In 2024, he still works for the same company; only now it’s called Robit GB, and he’s the Managing Director – an exceptional achievement in today’s job market.

1984 seems like a totally different world now. How did a young Mick see the world around him back then?
“At 19, I was young, free, and single with money in my pocket. It was an era of good music, and you got a lot for your money – 30p a pint of beer!”

Mick soon proved worth his salt, moving from labourer to hammer building, and soon he was asked to set up and run the cost department. Several years later, after a brief stint back on the factory floor as Foreman, he was promoted to Production Manager.

Were you ever tempted to look for a job elsewhere?
“An offer came up once to become the landlord of my local pub, but after much consideration and due to having a young family at the time, I felt it wasn’t the right environment for family life, and the risk was too big to take. The drilling industry gets into your bones, and like a great wine, it’s hard to let go.”

What would be some of the highlights of your 40 years at work?
“Just to mention a few, the opportunity to travel and experience different cultures like Hong Kong, which at that time was our biggest market. I visited Europe, participating in exhibitions, and, of course, visited Finland both as a supplier and employee. In 2012, the game changer for Bulroc was the move from a small 15,000 sq/ft factory to our present 55,000 sq/ft factory, which allowed us to grow as a business. Along my journey, I have made great work colleagues and some becoming personal friends.”

Eight years ago, Robit acquired Bulroc. How was the transition – was it hard to give up an old, revered name?
“To be honest, the takeover was business as usual. Giving up the name wasn’t particularly hard, more strange than anything, and it took a while to stop answering the phone saying, “Good morning/afternoon, Bulroc.” Even now, sometimes Bulroc accidentally slips into conversations.”

It’s 2025 now, and you’re the Managing Director. Do you still have work-related ambitions or goals?
“My ambition is to make Robit GB the best it can be. As a manufacturing arm of Robit, I want to make sure we provide quality products, are profitable, and work hard toward the company’s strategy and values.”