Last week at Heaton Park, we had the chance to speak with one of the most experienced crane operators in the business - a man who’s been with John Sutch Cranes for over 12 years and in the lifting game for 40.
Nick Kay, our crane operator that resides out of the Manchester depot in Duckinfield, was in the middle of a big lift as he put together the Main Stage for this weekend's hugely anticipated Parklife Festival 2025, when we caught up with him to see how life in the cabin is.
“This is what we do best,” he says, gesturing to the stage build behind him.
“We’ve been on this site all week. Myself and the team put the structure in last week, did the rigging, pulled the beams up with chain blocks. We practically built the whole stage.”
This isn’t a one-off.
“We do this every year — put it up, take it down. It’s a proper job, and it’s right on my doorstep. I’m local, so I know these grounds well. The 110 is my crane and it's here with me at every festival. We love working here.”
Even after decades in the industry, the pride hasn’t faded - even though the industry has.
“It’s changed a lot,” Nick said.
“Technology’s better. Safety’s better. There’s more paperwork — too much sometimes — but overall, it's a better, safer industry now.”
He’s seen it all, from big bridge jobs from Runcorn to stunt work for film shoots at sites in Liverpool for Hollyoaks and Lime Pictures, including rigging up a stuntman for a bungee-style scene.
Nick added: “We were there a full day for about 30 seconds of footage. But it was good work, good people.”
Now, over a decade in at John Sutch Cranes, he's seen the sharp end of lifting operations and he admits that he's proud of the way John and Hayley (daughter) Sutch runs things.
“You don’t always see John these days, but the reputation’s solid," he said.
"We might not be the cheapest, but we are the safest and most professional. That counts for something. You go on other sites, corners get cut. But not here. Nothing’s left to chance.”
“Crane work’s a team game,” he adds. “We’ve got a solid crew — old hands like me and some newer lads too. You’ve got Solly supervising, Stuart on slings, Paul overseeing things. Everyone knows what they’re doing.”
And that’s what makes the difference. Skilled teams. The right kit. And a culture where safety is never optional.
As he wrapped up and prepped for the next lift, we asked if he still loved it.
His answer?
“Course I do. You don’t do 40 years if you don’t.”
