For Sam Maybury, joining John Sutch Cranes wasn’t just about finding a job it was about finding the right fit.
Born and raised in Denton, just minutes away from the company’s Manchester depot, John Sutch Cranes was already a familiar name locally.
After serving in the Army as a plant operator, Sam found himself at a crossroads. He enjoyed the plant side of military life after serving six years in the Royal Engineers, but wanted something that gave him the same hands-on challenge in a civilian career.
He used his initiative, booked himself onto a CPCA course with Cornerbrook, which happened to be held in our Dukinfield depot.
What he didn’t know was that experienced crane operator and Manchester depot manager, Chris Fisher, was keeping close tabs on his progress. Sam’s work caught his eye and in true John Sutch fashion, Sam was signed up.
“While I enjoyed the army a lot, I’d had enough of being away all the time and wanted to move back home,” he explains.
“I enjoyed operating plant and driving, so crane work felt like a good middle ground.”
That decision led him to earn his qualifications and secure his tickets, opening the door to a career in lifting operations.
“I knew Sutches were local, and a mate of mine at Tarmac spoke highly of them. I got my ticket, and Chris offered me the job - it all came together from there.”
Starting out, Sam worked alongside experienced teams on contract lifts, learning the ropes and building confidence on site. Today, he’s out operating Manchester’s Demag 45T City Crane, taking on everything from smaller day-to-day lifts to supporting larger site operations.
A typical day? It’s all about preparation, teamwork and precision.
“You arrive on site, follow the lift plan, set up, and get cracking. It sounds simple, but there’s a lot that goes into making every lift safe and efficient.”
Like many who transition from military life, 26-year-old Sam says crane operations share some similarities with Army training, but this is a very different pace.
He said: “In the Army, you might only get into the plant every now and then because you’re still a soldier first. Here, it’s constant, you’re involved in lifting operations every day, which helps you improve quickly.”
One of the things that’s made the journey easier has been the support from the John Sutch Cranes team.
“When you’re new, there’s a lot you don’t know. But everyone here helps you out and teaches you. It’s a good team, and that makes a big difference.”
And like many ambitious operators, Sam already has one eye on the future.
“There’s talk of moving onto a bigger crane soon, maybe a 60-tonner. I’m still new to it, so I’m taking it step by step, but that’s the goal.”
Chris Fisher said: "Sam has made a great start to his lifting operations career at John Sutch. He's fitted straight in and we've had some impressive feedback. We'll keep developing him and offering the right opportunities so he can go all the way here. He just has to put the work in, which we know he will do."
For John Sutch Cranes, stories like Sam are what the business is all about investing in people, building careers, and giving operators the opportunity to grow.
From Army life to lifting operations, Sam’s journey is only just getting started.
