In the third of our “5 Questions with..” series, we sit down with Luke Perkins, Chief Product Officer, at Gill Group to find out more about his role, the changes he has seen in the industry over the last few years and what DIY and product design have in common.
Q.1 – What excites you most about Gill and your role here?
I’ve had the opportunity to work on some incredibly exciting and novel applications – being involved in projects that span such diverse domains means every day brings something new: novel applications, emerging technologies, and opportunities to make a meaningful impact across sectors. It’s a rare privilege to contribute to work that’s not only technically exciting but also widely relevant.
In my role as Chief Product Officer not only have I had the privilege of contributing to specific projects but also to help shape the strategic direction of our product offering, ensuring they remain relevant, scalable, and impactful across sectors. This is an exciting time to expand our product portfolio bringing together all the capabilities from across the group: Research & Development, Quality, Procurement, Production Engineering, Technical Support, Production, Marketing and Sales.
What distinguishes our approach is a deep understanding of our customers’ challenges. We invest time in listening, learning, and translating those insights into meaningful solutions that drive impact. We don’t offer a one size fits all solution, we listen, and tailor our offerings to meet real world needs. That customer centric mindset fuels everything we do and ensures our work has genuine impact.
Being part of this journey is both energising and inspiring. It’s a place where curiosity, creativity and purpose come together to develop world class solutions.
Q.2 – You’ve been in this industry for many years – what keeps it interesting for you?
Problem-solving remains a key driver, whether this is a technical, commercial, programme or market challenge. Navigating technical constraints, aligning with strategic goals, and delivering solutions that are both innovative and practical keeps the work intellectually stimulating. No two projects are ever the same, and that dynamic environment continues to push me to grow, adapt, and stay curious.
It’s especially rewarding to see products that I have contributed to deliver real-world benefits. That tangible impact reinforces the value of our work and its relevance across sectors.
Moreover, each opportunity presents a new learning curve, and that continuous evolution is what keeps the industry, and my role within it, deeply engaging.
Q.3 – How have you seen the industry change in the past five years?
Over the last few years, I have seen the industry evolve both in increased product capability and customer expectation. There has been a heightened emphasis on accuracy, quality and reliability, not just in the products themselves, but in the data and insights they generate. As systems have become more interconnected and decisions increasingly data-driven, trust in measurements is paramount.
Q.4 – Who has inspired you the most in your career, and what did you learn from them?
Throughout my career I’ve been fortunate to learn from a wide range of people, in a range of roles that has helped give me a balanced view of how I approach work today. Their practical insights, resilience, and ability to adapt taught me that real expertise often comes from lived experience and close engagement with challenges.
Some of the most valuable lessons came from observing how strong leaders navigate complex problem situations. Watching them manage uncertainty, make tough decisions, and maintain clarity under pressure was incredibly formative. I learned not just what worked well in terms of delivery and outcomes, but also what didn’t, and how those missteps shaped better approaches moving forward.
Seeing how they balanced strategic thinking with empathy for their teams helped me understand that leadership isn’t just about solving problems, it’s about guiding people through them. That perspective continues to influence how I approach my own work today.
Q.5 – Tell us something about yourself that might surprise us.
It often surprises people to learn that I’m just as comfortable with a toolkit as I am with a spreadsheet. Engaging in DIY projects around the home offers a welcome contrast to an office-based environment and provides a genuine sense of achievement.
From an early age, I’ve had a habit of dismantling broken items, sometimes to repair them, other times simply to understand how they work. That curiosity has given me a deep appreciation for design intent and the hidden complexity behind everyday systems.
This hands-on mindset carries through to my professional approach: methodical, inquisitive, and always focused on finding practical, effective solutions to technical challenges.
