When asking a friend’s parent for career advice, he encouraged us to try and stay at a job for at least a year, to demonstrate commitment on our CV. They’re words that might seem alien to an older generation, who viewed a job as a lifelong pursuit rather than a stepping stone to something better.
Tom Matthews and James Douglas, who have worked at Pallot Glass for 40 and 45 years respectively, have experienced every corner of the business and watched its ownership pass through generations. Thanks to the company’s long-standing history and accumulated expertise, they’re well-equipped to fit anything from the largest panes of glass manufactured, down to one the size of a car’s wing mirror.
Both men arrived in Jersey through a chain of chance events. Tom, originally from London, moved to the island because his mother’s sister lived here and started as a sales rep for the company. James, meanwhile, was visiting Jersey for a few weeks before heading to Germany for a job in engineering. “I never made it to Germany,” he joked. “After three weeks at Pallot’s, I started full-time in 1979.” Since then, he’s worked across installation, fabrication, and sales – gaining experience in a wide range of work.
“We’re fortunate to work at a longstanding family company,” said Tom. “Over time, we’ve seen other glazing firms on the island come and go, but Pallot’s has always been solid.” Their careers have taken them around the globe, contributing to major projects such as the Metropole Hotel in London and the Australian embassies in Jakarta and China. “I was privileged,” James reflected. “I’ve gotten to see a bit of the world through our little company here.”
On-island, Pallot Glass has taken on some of the most ambitious architectural projects of their time. When Ron Hickman, inventor of the Black & Decker Workmate, requested the largest panes of glass ever glazed in Europe, Tom and James were up to the challenge. “At the time, what he designed was incredibly futuristic,” Tom said. “It was an avant-garde sort of build. Bigger panes have been done since, but back then, it was extraordinary. Everything had to be specially made.”
What sets Pallot’s apart from other glazing companies is the equipment and expertise at their disposal. “No other companies on the island can lift the largest panes of glass – but we can,” Tom said. “We’ve got a large crane and many specially trained staff. Unless you go to the UK, you won’t find anyone else who can do what we do.” It’s a capability that comes from decades of staff retention, allowing Pallot’s to take on complex projects with confidence.
The longevity of Tom and James’ careers ultimately speaks to the benefits of working for a tight-knit, stable family company. When they first joined, it wasn’t uncommon for employees to stay for life, with the average tenure sitting around 23 years. “If people are working somewhere for that long,” said Tom, “the company must be doing something right. You’d have to do something pretty serious to get sacked. The first instinct here is always to look after you. Everyone’s a human being – not a number.”
