We are marking an important employee milestone as Catering Engineers’ Managing Director Ian Berrow celebrates 30 years with the company this July.

Ian officially joined the C&C family on 16th July 1984 but this was not his first encounter with the catering equipment installation specialist.

After leaving school and beginning a career as an electrical contractor, Ian worked on site at many different commercial properties, installing electrical systems. He completed his apprenticeship with Chester Electrical Ltd, but was unfortunately made redundant soon after completing his training.

For a few months Ian did odd jobs, helping out friends and family and during this period was contacted by John Kitchin, C&C’s founder, who hired Ian to do some electrical contracting work at C&C’s first location at Bumpers Lane. Chester Electrical then offered Ian his job back and with the appeal of a secure, full time position, Ian dutifully accepted but just a few months later John was back in touch again and offered him a full time job installing and servicing catering equipment. Ian decided to take the plunge and became C&C’s first service engineer and the support side of the business was born.

Ian recalls it was very hands-on role right from the beginning, “I quickly had to get up to speed with all the equipment and complete lots of training courses and qualifications for my new role. It was hard work for those first few years but I realised this new career path had great potential and I was really enjoying the work.”

Over the next few years C&C’s service business grew and grew under Ian and they began taking on more staff. In 1993 Ian was made the Service Director at C&C Catering Equipment Ltd.

As Ian’s role developed and his knowledge of installations expanded, he started assisting the company with new project sales until the decision was taken to set-up Catering Engineers (NW) Ltd as a separate business in 1998, with Ian becoming Managing Director. The business name was changed to C&C Catering Engineers in 2012 to emphasize the link with their sister company C&C Catering Equipment.

C&C Catering Engineers now operate the service, spares and showroom side of the business from a separate facility in Queensferry, Flintshire.

Outside of work Ian enjoys sports, particularly golf and like many of the C&C family, Ian is an avid Manchester United supporter.

Of Ian’s commitment to the company, C&C Catering Equipment MD Peter Kitchin said, “It’s testament to Ian and his unwavering loyalty to C&C that the servicing side of the business is where it is today. As Managing Director of C&C Catering Engineers Ian has always had my full trust, confidence and support and I’d like to congratulate and thank him for 30 years of fantastic service, and I look forward to his continued dedication.”