Print is in the blood and won’t run dry for Roberts’ chairman

That is certainly the case for John Roberts and his family. Leeds-based printing company Roberts Mart has been going since 1852, when it was founded by William Roberts.

John Roberts, who is the current chairman, is the fifth generation to lead the business.

Last year, Mr Roberts celebrated 50 years of service at the print packaging firm. In his time he has seen the business and the industry evolve massively.

Mr Roberts said: “I don’t think anybody will witness such changes as I’ve witnessed. When I came into our company we were letterpress and litho printers.

“We set type by hand, we were binders, we made paper bags – all that’s gone. Now we print flexographically reel to reel on big, huge presses that run 24 hours a day at high speed.”

Mr Roberts began his career in the print industry in 1961, when he embarked on a diploma course at Leeds College of Printing and Technology.

He said: “I was away at school and my father phoned me one day and said I’ve got you a place on this course but it means you have to leave school at the end of this term.

“He said is that what you’d like to do and I said yes. I’d seen the careers master at school and to be honest I had no idea what I wanted to do. Obviously I knew a lot about the family business because it was part of our lives.”

Once he’d completed his diploma in 1964 Mr Roberts joined the family business.

A business which he’d been around since childhood and despite handing over the reins to his own sons, is still involved with today.

As a young boy John’s father used to take him to work and show him around the business.

“I worked with my father for 30 years,” he said.

“I think I was 30 when he had a heart attack and at that time I was a director of the company and he was chairman and managing director.

“But as a result of the heart attack I had to step into the breach and take over running the company on a day-to-day basis which was quite a challenge, but you either sink or swim.”

Mr Roberts and his father, Peter Roberts, were very close.

He said: “I start getting emotive when I start thinking about my late father. He was my best friend, but these things happen and I was thrown in at the deep end and I’m here to tell the tale.”

Working under his father’s tutelage helped John cope with the stresses and strains of running the business and today he fulfils a similar mentoring role to his two sons William, managing director, and Ben, sales director.

“It’s history repeating itself in that I’m able to counsel them and give them advice,” says Mr Roberts.

“I try to stand back and let them make their own decisions. There’s only so much advice you can give. They know that I’m here to help if necessary. I get involved with the bigger decisions like expanding, buying new machinery and equipment.”

While the day-to-day running of the business is with his sons, Mr Roberts still remains active in the business.

He said: “I’m here everyday. I start at around 7.15am and I work till about 4pm and then go home.

“I’m 71 in October, perhaps I shouldn’t be doing what I am doing but it’s my life. This business is everything to me.”

Looking to the future Mr Roberts says he hopes to continue at Roberts Mart.

“I have no immediate plans to fully retire. This business is my life and I get enormous satisfaction from seeing new equipment going in and dealing with members of staff and customers. It’s very gratifying.”

A striking feature of Roberts Mart’s plant at Thornes Farm Way in Leeds is that despite the modern building there are nods to the firm’s and the industry’s past.

In the reception, on a raised platform, is an old Heidelberg printing press. The corridors are dotted with pictures from the old factory at Bank Mills, going as far back as the Great War.

When Roberts Mart moved to its current base 11 years ago, Mr Roberts wanted to maintain a link with the past.

Though he admits to holding a little bit of nostalgia, Mr Roberts is enthused by future possibilities and in particular the advances in technology.

He said: “I’ve got pictures of the past, but you can’t dwell on the past can you? You’ve got to look forward.

“The type of presses that we’ve got now and the quality of the inks, the printing plates, the substrates – they’ve all improved so much over the last decade. I’m not sure what will happen in the next ten years.”

Earlier this year Mr Roberts was handed the British Printing Industries Federation’s (BPIF) Outstanding Contribution Award. Mr Roberts said he was amazed at being given the award. “It came as a complete shock and it was something that was totally unexpected”.

Roberts Mart employs around 170 people and has a turnover of £25m. Mr Roberts says that he hopes that recent investment in new equipment, another printing press is being built at the factory, will help grow turnover.

Being an independent business allows the firm to be fleet footed, especially when it comes to decision-making, says Mr Roberts.

“I think my sons share the same view which is that we wish to remain independent as long as possible.”

After over 160 years, for the Roberts family and John Roberts, print is certainly in the blood and they won’t be getting rid of it any time soon.

John Roberts factfile

Title: Chairman of Roberts Mart

Date of birth: October 20, 1944

Lives: Harrogate

First job: Roberts Mart

Favourite film: Captain Phillips

Favourite song: El Paso by Marty Robbins

Favourite holiday destination: Going on cruises

Last book read: Ardennes 1944: Hitler’s Last Gamble by Antony Beevor

What is the thing you are most proud of? My business and my family

Car driven: BMW 6 series convertible

Education: Leeds College of Printing and Technology