The Sentinel

Unitas vans get vibrant new ‘Potteries’ look from Graphix!

- Mike Astbury Managing director of Mondrem and Wayfinder TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF

DESIGN and print company Graphix have helped to give a fleet of Unitas vans a vibrant new look.

The Norton-based business designed new Potteriest­hemed branding for the council house repair service’s new fleet of electric vehicles.

The company has previously worked with Unitas, but Graphix managing director Steve Ward said the new electric vans gave his design team a chance to ‘pull out all the stops’ on the creative content.

He said: “We wanted to celebrate Unitas’ move to electric vehicles and proposed bright, green designs to the management team, featuring scenes from Stoke-on-trent.

“The concept was enthusiast­ically embraced by Unitas and we’re delighted with the finished product.

“It’s fantastic to win repeated contracts to work with Unitas. We’re proud of our city and it’s satisfying to work with a company who strive hard to build a better city, repairing and maintainin­g the local housing stock.”

Steve added: “We work nationally but our roots are firmly in North Staffordsh­ire, so it’s satisfying to have such strong links with the area.”

Graphix are also approved suppliers to Stoke-on-trent City Council and have longstandi­ng partnershi­ps with many companies in their home city.

The company is the official signage and print supplier to Stoke City FC, working with the club to brand the bet365 stadium, the training ground at Clayton Wood and the club’s shops. Recent projects in North Staffordsh­ire included the design, print and appliance of new branding for leisure centres across the Staffordsh­ire Moorlands.

Q

A

Hi, I’m Mike Astbury, I’m 56 and I live in Crewe. I’m the managing director of the Mondrem and Wayfinder community interest companies, based at Keele University. ideas to grow profession­ally and personally and to do great things. Last year the team won a ‘Breaking the Mould’ award for this approach. That felt great for all of us.

Walk quickly. It keeps me fit. It allows me to take time out from work and the stresses of life and be in the moment in the fresh air, which is so important now.

It’s great for my mental health too.

A

My late sister, Katy. She was very ill for most of her life. She was so brave and never complained. Brilliant public servants helped her and our family in ways that we can

A

Helping make the working lives of Northern Italy, in the lakes. I love never repay, but sometimes, they busy public servants less stressful the climate, the scenery, the caused hurt and anguish that they and more profession­ally rewarding. language and the culture. I have didn’t intend.

That helps them to deliver a faster some powerful memories there – Stories like Katy’s life and and better experience for the and some more to make. determinat­ion are why my people and communitie­s they colleagues and I want to make serve. The people we work with public services brilliant, everywhere, often find it hard to believe that all the time. things can get better for them.

We help them make the changes

A

they want to see and start to Helping to show the people who believe that things can continue to work for Mondrem and Wayfinder get better and stay better. that making human connection­s

A

and building shared understand­ing Bring kindness. Help others to makes great changes happen and shine. Their brilliance will light your stick. And seeing them use these life.

Q WHO IS YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCE/INSPIRATIO­N AND WHY? Q Q Q GIVE ME AN OVERVIEW OF YOUR WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PART IF YOU COULD LIVE ANYWHERE CAREER SO FAR ABOUT YOUR JOB? IN THE WORLD,WHERE WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

A

I started my career working for councils in Cheshire and London, introducin­g new services and improving existing ones.

In this time, I also worked on secondment with a software company in Berkshire.

Later I worked as a contract manager for an outsourcin­g company, based in Birmingham, delivering contracts for London councils.

From 2000, I was resources director for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, and in 2004 I joined public service improvemen­t

Acompany, Alexander, based in Southampto­n.

I started Mondrem in 2016 to help make public services brilliant, everywhere, all the time – and to have fun doing it. With my business partner, Sarah, we started Wayfinder in 2020 to help the families of children with mental illness.

Q WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME?

AQ WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMEN­T? WHAT IS THE ONE MOTTO THAT YOU LIVE AND WORK BY?

 ??  ?? Unitas board member councillor Carl Edwards, Unitas director Wayne Booth and Graphix managing director Steve Ward with the new-look electric vans.
Unitas board member councillor Carl Edwards, Unitas director Wayne Booth and Graphix managing director Steve Ward with the new-look electric vans.
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