My first day at FRP is one of those memories that’s stuck with me – mostly because I really didn’t know what to expect.
I remember pulling up outside a Portacabin, which was set up at Marie’s house. I found myself sitting with Marie and her dog Benson on one side, and Nick and Bernie on the other. I looked out at Marie’s perfectly kept garden, took a breath, and thought: “Alright… let’s do this. Whatever this is.”
Back then, FRP was in its early days. We were small, and everyone wore multiple hats. We were all the departments – sales, engineering, logistics, you name it. But that was part of the excitement. As the business grew, we gradually developed structure, split into dedicated teams, and defined our roles more clearly.
Standout memories from many happy days are the team days, especially one in particular where we had fire safety training. I distinctly remember the trainer going into detail about “burning embryos”…(Embers). Safe to say, he had a very unusual way of explaining things, and it made for an unforgettable session!
As we began to establish ourselves more, we took a big step forward by promoting FRP at trade shows. Our first was MedTech Ireland in Galway, 2016. That show was a turning point. I remember Nick and I having a quiet chat during the event, asking: “What’s next for us?”
What came next was a shift into a higher gear. We focused on building our in-house capabilities – CT scanning, better DFM processes, and sharpening our technical edge. It was exciting to see our ideas materialise and make a real impact on customer service and product quality.
Looking back, that first day – sitting in a Portacabin with a dog, a garden view, and a whole lot of unknowns, was the start of an incredible journey. FRP has come a long way, and I’m proud to have been part of it from its infancy.
