This week in our “5 Questions with…” series, we put the spotlight on Gary Day, Group Manufacturing Manager. Find out more about his experience at Gill and his surprising time as an up-and-coming footballer at a well-known club.
Q.1 – What excites you most about Gill and your role here?
What excites me most about my role at Gill is the opportunity to make a real impact across both the operational and strategic sides of the business. As General Manager of Labcal and Group Manufacturing Manager at Gill, I’m in a position where I can influence performance, develop people, and help shape the direction of the organisation.
Q.2 – You are relatively new to this industry. What interests you most?
As someone relatively new to the industry, what interests me most is the chance to learn and understand the technical side of the business while improving how we operate. Working at Gill and leading Labcal has given me exposure to a highly specialised environment. I find really interesting to see how precision, quality, and the technical expertise all come together to deliver for customers.
Q.3 –How do you see technology impacting your role over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, I see AI playing an increasing role across the industry. As industries focus more on climate monitoring, renewable energy, and environmental awareness, I believe technologies from Gill will become even more important, particularly as customers look for complete environmental monitoring systems rather than just individual sensors. AI, when combined with strong organisational leadership, will enable organisations to be in the best position to succeed.
Q.4 -Who has inspired you the most in your career, and what did you learn from them?
The person who has inspired me the most in my career is Andy Steele. Early in my career, when I was just starting out in management, he was a massive support and took me under his wing. He taught me the importance of ownership, structured processes, and being data-driven, and he introduced me to the principles of lean manufacturing. His guidance not only helped me develop strong management skills but also shaped how I approach operational excellence and continuous improvement in my roles today.
Q.5 -Tell us something about yourself that might surprise us.
Something that might surprise you about myself is that as a teenager, I spent five years with Portsmouth Football Club before being released. That experience taught me discipline, teamwork, and resilience from an early age, qualities that have stayed with me throughout my career.
