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        Newsletter Signup

        Two More Solar Solve Long-Service Awards

        In mid-April, employees at Solar Solve took time out from their busy production schedule and held a small party to congratulate and celebrate two of their colleagues receiving Long-Service awards.

        The company’s three business owners/directors, John, Lilian and Julie Lightfoot, attended and presented the ‘Thank You’ cards and gifts.

        In 2001, Operations Manager, Carl Johnson had been made redundant as a result of the demise of the Reyrolle Works in Hebburn. He was looking for a new challenge and considering all of his options. After two interviews Carl was offered the vacant position at Solar Solve but kept them waiting for a few weeks until he had attended all of his final interviews, reviewed his offers and finally decided to say “Yes” to Solar Solve.

        The directors said Carl has been a great benefit to the company throughout his 20 years of loyal service and they are delighted that he did eventually opt to join Solar Solve way back in 2001 and that he has stayed with them ever since.

        Company Secretary, Lilian Lightfoot proudly presented Carl with a ‘Congratulations & Thank You’ card and a Gift card in appreciation of his 20 years of Super Service to Solar Solve.

        John and Lilian then recounted how Julie had helped in the business, especially from the age of 16 to 22, when she was a Saturday Girl in the Showroom and then she worked 1 evening a week doing the accounts.

        In 1991, John and Lilian were asked to visit Malaysia for a week to promote the new Solar Solve sunscreens. They were keen to go but didn’t have anyone to run the business whilst they were away.

        By that time Julie had ‘A’ levels, completed a 2-year Trainee Course with IBM and was a Management Trainee at Marks & Spencer but the programme had been put on ‘hold’ due to the recession and she wasn’t happy.

        Lilian comments, “Our business was not doing brilliantly and I was concerned about asking Julie to move from a secure but frustrating job with M&S. However, John was so confident that the SOLASOLV products would become a success, we decided to make Julie an offer.”

        Julie readily accepted her parents offer and has been a great asset to the business. Although Julie has always made financial control her major responsibility, she has many other business skills and talents and is considered the ideal person for the role of Managing Director.

        Julie’s father, Solar Solve’s Chairman, John Lightfoot said:

        “It is with great pride and a lot of pleasure, that I have the honour of presenting Julie with a ‘Congratulations & Thank You’ card and a gift card, from her mother and I, in appreciation of her 30 plus years of exceptional service to Solar Solve.”

        Full details of Solar Solve Marine and its product range are available from the company website at www.solasolv.com, email info(at)solasolv.com or by telephone on +44 191 454 8595.  

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        12 May
        12 May 2026, 09:30 – 14:00

        Navigating the UK Defence Ecosystem: Opportunities for Marine Science and Technology

        The Society of Maritime Industries' (SMI) Marine Science and Technology Group (MSTG) is running a seminar to provide a high-level overview as to how non-traditional defence suppliers including...
        01 Jun
        1 Jun 2026 – 5 Jun 2026

        POSIDONIA 2026

        Posidonia brings the whole shipping world to its exhibitors. The international shipping community attends in strength with national pavilions and thousands of visitors.
        09 Jun
        9 Jun 2026, 08:30 – 11 Jun 2026, 17:00

        Seawork 2026

        In 2026, we are once again partnering with Seawork, Europe’s largest commercial marine and workboat exhibition, to host a dedicated SMI Hub within the exhibition.
        01 Sep
        1 Sep 2026 – 4 Sep 2026

        SMM 2026 (Shipbuilding, Machinery and Marine Technology trade fair)

        When it comes to meeting up with all the leading protagonists of the global maritime industry, there’s no place like SMM, one of the leading international maritime trade fairs. 
        13 Apr
        13 Apr 2027, 09:00 – 15 Apr 2027, 17:00

        Sea Asia 2027

        SMI will once again organise the UK Group Pavilion at Sea Asia in its role as the official Country Pavilion organiser. The event will return, bigger and bolder on 16-18th March 2027. To register...
        07 Jun
        7 Jun 2027, 09:00 – 11 Jun 2027, 10:00

        NorShipping 2027

        SMI will once again organise the UK Group Pavilion at Nor-Shipping. The event will return, bigger and bolder in 2027. 
        19 Oct
        19 Oct 2027 – 22 Oct 2027

        Kormarine 2027

        Join SMI in the UK Pavilion at Kormarine a leading international marine exhibition held biennially in Busan, South Korea. Kormarine highlights cutting-edge advancements in shipbuilding, maritime...
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