Celebrating Nine Years of Dickie’s Dedication

QSHE Manager Retires from Shenton Group

On Friday, 27^th February, 2026, after close to a decade at Shenton Group, Dickie Staff, our much-loved QSHE Manager, officially packed up Dickie’s Den, hung up his high-vis jacket, and stepped into his new challenge of retirement. This marked the end of a remarkable chapter built on dedication, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to keeping our staff, clients, and projects safe and compliant.

Dickie joined Shenton Group in 2016 after spotting a job vacancy following a redundancy from a previous employer. He met Jody (Chief Operating Officer), Derek (Chief Technical Officer), and Lorraine (Operations Manager) during the application process, and their warmth and sincerity made an immediate impression, one that never left him.

A Journey Built on Growth and Purpose for Both Dickie and Shenton Group

When he first joined the company, it was a little different to the one we know today: “Shenton Group was much smaller then. But, despite the business’s growth, there is still a human touch and genuine interest from the owners.”

Over the years, Dickie embraced every opportunity to expand his knowledge, gaining new qualifications and driving improvements across quality, safety, health, and environmental systems. He put these new qualifications to use by supporting the business in achieving various certificates and accreditations whilst at Shenton Group.

During one of his proudest achievements, Dickie, supported by the tireless efforts of Steph Taylor, led the business through three UKAS standards all at the same time: ISO 9001 (Quality Management Systems), ISO 45001 (Occupational Health & Safety), and ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems). This was a huge undertaking at the time, especially the 5-day audit process. However, with all the departments pulling together and sharing “best practice evidence with the ISO auditor, the business achieved certification without any non-conformances raised.

Dickie also praised a strong “buy-in” from the engineers, saying, “There has never been any negativity or refusal to buy into new initiatives and processes that aim to provide a safer environment to work in.” As part of their daily work ethic, the engineers enthusiastically raised the bar with reporting potentially hazardous situations, greatly reducing the risk of accidents and personal injuries.

Culture, Care, and Colleagues

If there’s one thing Dickie highlights repeatedly, it’s the people.

Over the years, Dickie touched countless lives at Shenton Group, particularly through his role in inducting every single new starter to the business. For many colleagues, he was the first friendly face they met, setting the tone for what they describe as an exceptionally welcoming, people-first culture.

“Everyone cares,” he explained. “This is something that is led from the top, right down to the colleagues you work with.” Shenton Group’s culture of being supportive, warm, and genuinely caring has been central to his experience with the company. During a period of significant health challenges in 2025, the support he got from the owners, directors, admin teams, and engineers was “overwhelming at times, but truly sincere.”  

It was this sense of belonging and appreciation that Dickie says keeps people here. Every colleague is trusted, empowered, and encouraged to do their best: “There was (and is) a great feeling of camaraderie. If you need help, there are always at least two or three people nearby who will say, ‘What can I do to help?’” 

Dickie also celebrated the way mistakes were not met with blame but rather treated as an opportunity to learn. After all, as Dickie puts it, “every day is a school day!”

Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter

But what’s next for Dickie? After spending 50 years working, Dickie accepts that “life’s going to be a little strange for the first few weeks.” Still, he won’t be slowing down any time soon.

His passion for motorcycle track racing has already led to invitations to officiate at European Championship events across the continent, including Poland, the South of France, and the Netherlands, and even at World Championship events in both northern and southern Germany. Summer 2026 is shaping up to be a busy one, but he’s more than ready for it. Knowing Dickie, he’ll make the most of every moment.

Dickie’s Words of Advice for the Next Generation

What words of wisdom would Dickie offer to anyone starting their career at Shenton Group today?

He offers two key pieces of advice. The first is simple: enjoy the experience. He says people should “work hard and share the workload — never be one to say, ‘That’s not my job.’”

His second is that, if you don’t understand something, ask. “Stop the speaker and ask them to explain it in simpler terms. You’ll be thought more of for seeking clarification and, more importantly, you’ll know what they are talking about the next time around.”

Final Word

Dickie, if you had to sum up Shenton Group as an employer in one sentence, what would you say?

“A great place to work, great people to work with, and a supportive management team who are there to help and support you as and when you need them.”

Interested in joining a team where people like Dickie make a difference?  

Discover more about working at Shenton Group on our Careers Page.  

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