Managing director, Danny Church, is celebrating three decades of working at Hydramec Offshore Hydraulic Systems.   

Danny Church

Danny joined Hydramec in 1992 at the age of 16, two years after Hydramec was founded. He first began his career in the engineering industry by attending a machining and mechanical fitting course at college which led to him joining his father, Peter Church, as an apprentice. As an apprentice, Danny had several positions including being the tea boy as well as exploring a variety of disciplines like welding, fabrication, electrical installations, general fitting, and hydraulic fault finding. This experience led him to become a service engineer, a role Danny stayed in for many years travelling the world carrying out repairs to Hydramec’s and client’s equipment.  

In 2005, Danny became the general manager of Hydramec which at the time employed 20 people. Due to his father’s retirement in 2012 and the departure of his brother, Danny took over the business and became managing director.   

Since becoming managing director, Danny has been striving to make the company even bigger and gain a global presence in the offshore launch and recovery sector. Hydramec now employs over 60 people and has acquired a wide client base in a variety of sectors, allowing the business to become widely recognised.   

“It feels strange reminiscing over the changes since the company was founded. Hydramec only had two employees when I first started and was operating out of a workshop no bigger than a garage. Now we have over 60 employees and a workshop over two acres. The fact that it has also grown and remained a family business is great”  – Danny

Danny Church working on a Swedish vessel in 1997

Question Time:  

What is your ethos as an MD? 

Lead from the front. I still get my overalls on and get my hands dirty when I need to. I like to travel and go on jobs with the lads when the opportunity arises. It’s important to show I am part of the team and not just the ‘boss’, I’m willing to do the same jobs as everyone else when I get the chance.  

Best advice you’ve been given during your career? 

Go for everything, regret nothing. Something my dad and founder of Hydramec once said to me.  

What advice would you give to others? 

Work hard and try to stay focused. But most importantly enjoy what you do.  

What does the future look like for Hydramec?  

Hydramec’s future looks bright. We are always looking at continued growth and innovation. I am proud to say that I have been able to see what the company has achieved and to have been a part of the growth over the last 30 years.