Author: Anita Edge, Office Manager, HAYLEY DEXIS | Services & Solutions
As HAYLEY DEXIS celebrates 50 years, I look back on my 22 years here with immense pride and a few happy tears, if I’m honest. If I were to highlight two proud moments, I would choose the part I played in the TfL contract (the beginning of our rail days) and watching Ben, who is the son of a founder, become Joint Managing Director. They both make me proud as punch.
Starting Out
I started in January 2004 in the bearings team, based out of Halesowen, delivering branch support and customer service. We used to send products directly to certain customers all over England and Wales from the Midlands, which seems quite old-fashioned by today’s logistical standards. From there, I moved into purchasing and I even served as a PA for our founders, Bernie and Lee for 12 months, which was a fantastic experience! Bernie and Lee, as many people have no doubt told you, were the nicest people to work for.
Next Stop: Rail
The real turning point for my career, something I’m truly proud of, was the Transport for London (TfL) contract that we won to kickstart our expansion into the rail industry, in 2009. I was there from the beginning, and that means a lot to me as I put in many hours, as did everyone else, to make it work and deliver the absolute best for the customer. Soon enough, more customers came on board, trusting us as their chosen supply partner for tools, PPE, consumable products, fasteners and fixings, lubricants, and more.
Back in 2009, I was supporting a sales turnover of around £16,000,000 pretty much single handedly within purchasing, at the time. There’s a team of six or seven now, such has been the success of the rail division over the last decade. I was responsible for setting up supplier accounts, stock control, and the stock profile for everything. It was a big undertaking, and I’m proud to have done my bit.
The HAYLEY DEXIS Family
Beyond the work, what really stands out is the family atmosphere at HAYLEY DEXIS. Everybody looks after each other. There’s nobody here that I’ve met in my working life that I don’t like. The team I left behind in mind-2025 when I moved from Oldbury (where the Midlands Rail team are now based) to Halesowen, broke my heart. They were like my second family. We’ve been through a lot together, both personally and as a team. I’m fondly known as ‘Momma Neets’ by quite a few of the younger members of that team, which I love, as no one ever calls me ‘Anita’ unless I’m in trouble! That kind of support isn’t easy to find, and it’s a big part of why HAYLEY DEXIS has lasted 50 years.
I’d also add that I’ve been privileged to watch Ben Noakes’ personal journey, right through from his first days as a bright-eyed teenager in the business, to managing the rail division, and now as Joint Managing Director alongside Gary. They make a great team.
Looking Forward
I’ve recently moved on to a new role as the office manager for our new Services & Solutions division, where I have lots of exciting plans to help move things forward with the team there. It’s really rewarding now I reflect, to see the projects and teams that I’ve personally been involved in, still growing and performing brilliantly. The people have changed over the years but the company stays close to its founding principles in everything it does, and that’s why it continues to be a success and a great place to work!
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