Some of NCU’s star players in action
In 2008, security was added to the portfolio of services at the request of existing clients.
Two years previously, the company bought over the Waveney Laundry in Ballymena and later invested £2m in creating a new base for the business in Antrim. It now concentrates on laundering bed and table linen for a range of hotels.
David, a father of two, Jack (9) and Lucy (8), is married to Gillian and still lives in the Antrim area. When he was growing up in Muckamore, the local cricket club was the big attraction.
“I remember when I was eight or nine, walking down to the club with my brother. Now that I have children of that age I cannot ever think that I would allow them to walk anywhere on their own, but those were different times and we all felt safer then.”
It was his love affair with cricket — he was once captain and wicket-keeper of the 3rd XI and is now a trustee of the Muckamore club — has led to today’s sponsorship deal for the Northern Cricket Union’s premier and senior leagues.
“As a company we are keen to support community projects such as Antrim Festival.
“We also support local football and rugby teams, but I love cricket because it isn’t Orange or Green. Everyone can go along to watch or play without any fear of sectarianism.
“My dad, my brother and I all played cricket as enthusiastic amateurs. It was the thing to do in a village like Muckamore and there was a great community spirit in the club.
“That is why we have sponsored cricket. We got a lot out of it in our lives.
“But I also like all sports because they bring people together and that is a good thing.”
He adds: “We also like to sponsor sports teams because they are part of local communities and our staff all live in those communities.
“In a way, we are doing something for them and we are glad to help within reason.”
Robinson Services — which is keen to encourage staff by giving awards for outstanding contribution and the company regularly receives recognition in national industry awards — now boasts of having some 4,000 clients, all of them based in Northern Ireland.
Previously, it had expanded to Scotland but sold off that business in recent years to focus on the province.
David says: “Our business is very stable. We are not racing to the top. I am the second generation to run the business and I hope that there will be a third generation to take over from me and more after that. We create a lot of employment and value the people who work for us”.
❝ We like to sponsor sports teams because they are part of local communities and our staff live in those communities
Andrew White, Instonians