Writing instruments manufacturer Pentel is today celebrating three decades of business in Swindon
Writing instruments manufacturer Pentel is today celebrating three decades of business in Swindon
The company, which is responsible for some of the world’s favourite writing instruments, moved from its previous accommodation in New Malden, Surrey, into purpose-built premises in South Marston Park, Swindon, Wiltshire on 5 May 1992.
A few months earlier the company held an open evening at the Job Centre in Swindon, which made local and national headlines when queues stretched around the block and attracted hundreds of applications for the office and warehouse roles on offer.
Thirty years on and four members of staff who joined Pentel when the company began trading in Swindon are still employed by the business: Facilities and HR Manager Carmelina Petroccia, Customer Service/Quality Manager June Darroux, Marketing Manager Wendy Vickery and Inventory Planner Julie Hackett. Between them they have clocked up 120 years of service.
Pentel’s parent company is based in Japan, where its factories manufacture a range of industry-leading pens, mechanical pencils, markers and art materials. At the Swindon site Pentel conducts its sales, marketing and distribution business for the UK and Ireland.
Thirty years in Swindon have witnessed significant changes in the writing instruments industry. Wendy Vickery comments, “The availability of digital technology has, of course, made an impact on the overall use of writing instruments, but the paperless office that many predicted a couple of decades ago has certainly not materialised. We might use less of them perhaps, but pens, pencils and markers remain essential equipment not just in offices, but in factories, warehouses, schools and colleges. While laptops and tablets are ubiquitous, there are many tasks for which it’s simply easier and more convenient to reach for a pen or a marker. “
She adds, “We pride ourselves on the quality of products we offer to customers, and this is as important today as it was when Pentel moved to Swindon all those years ago. If you’re marking on a wet or a greasy surface, you need to be sure that your marker is up to the job and the ink remains in place – so that’s why you’d choose Pentel N50. And left-handed students benefit from the reassurance that our quick-drying EnerGel pen range will not leave messy smudges as their hand moves across the page. Our latest initiative has been to introduce a range of plastic-free retail packaging in place of conventional blister cards for our customers in the retail sector.”
Pentel remains an active supporter of charities, raising over £2.2m collectively for Breast Cancer Now and Prostate Cancer UK through sales of its hugely popular special edition pens.
As the company celebrates the 30 years in Swindon milestone Pentel looks set to enjoy continued success in the town for decades to come.