No thought of retirement after working fifty years at Interface

BACK in the 1960s, computers resembled tower blocks and mobile phones were the stuff of science fiction.

It was into this world that 15-year-old Mike Halliwell took his first steps into the world of work. Fifty years later, he’s still with the same company – carpet tile manufacturer Interface – after living through some of the most turbulent times in economic history.

During the course of his career, Mr Halliwell has helped Interface move into the computer age, and seen off the threat from the dreaded Millennium bug. Now 65, he’s still working three days a week as a customer services team leader, and has no plans to retire.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He joined Interface on August 20 1962, when the company was called Firth Carpets and based at Bailiff Bridge near Brighouse. Mr Halliwell, who was born in Brighouse, was given an entry-level role in the general administration department.

He worked his way up to the pricing department, looking after order processing and pricing. He made sure the factory produced the correct number and type of carpets; no easy task during the 1960s, when everything was done manually.

During the 1970s, he was made head of the pricing department and helped to install the company’s first order entry and invoicing computer systems. He later moved to Interface’s European Headquarters in Shelf, near Halifax.

Mr Halliwell said: “It’s amazing to see the changes that have happened in the last 50 years. I was here when the first computers came in, and seeing the offices now makes me proud of how we adapted and what we accomplished.”

Related topics: