Miller’s 10 Year Tale

John Sutch Cranes supervisor Joe Miller hits a major milestone in 2024 as he celebrates 10 years in our business and he’s learned off one of the best – his dad.

Family values are what make this business tick and that’s not lost on us, as it’s those connections that have allowed John Sutch Cranes to become one of the best crane operators in the country.

Joe is a product of crane royalty in Liverpool. His Dad, Frank, was the very first employee our owner and MD, John Sutch, employed way back in 1990. Fast forward 35 years and he’s now got two Millers doing the business for him.

What sets Joe apart isn't just his expertise in managing complex crane operations; it's the roots from which he draws his knowledge.

A decade of excellence is not just a testament to his individual skill but a tribute to the invaluable lessons learned from one of the best mentors in the industry – his father.

“I’ve been here 10 years this year,” Joe said, speaking from his site in Manchester, Co-op Live.

“Ten years is a long time, but it goes like that. I joined the business in 2014 and have just worked my way up.

“It’s a job I love doing and from day one I’ve just picked things up and got on with the job. Construction has been around me since I was a kid.

“Being out on site is the best bit. Every day can be different and there’s real challenges that we have to overcome within the operations we carry out.”

John Sutch Cranes has employed scores of young people coming out of education at the age of 16 and 17, before getting their tickets, accreditations and qualifications before hitting site.

It’s a John Sutch Cranes Apprenticeship that’s stood the test of time.

Joe remembers: “I left school at 17 and my Dad said jump in the van and that was it! I went down to the yard and started at square one.

“There was a fella called Wally, who was in his 70’s, and ready for retirement after a long career. I was shown the ropes and I eventually took over and then it was onto site with my Dad once I had my tickets in place.

“Dad has been with John nearly all his career and he’s done everything there is to do in crane operations. He worked side by side with John and in the early days in my career that was what it was like for me. I was with him for a few years and now I’m doing my own thing.”

So what’s it like working for your father on some of the busiest sites in the North West?

“He has high standards and it was tough at first – no favours”, Joe said.

“I had my tickets and was like everyone else; just working hard and getting the job done.  He left me alone as I learned the job and now when I’m on site with him, he leaves me to it. He ignores me a bit now!

“We have some great people here with so much experience and you learn off everyone of them. It’s conversations that you have on those lads with more years in the game than you that have brought about thoughts on what’s next and maybe being an AP (Appointed Person), is something I will look at in the future.”

Joe, 27, is one of the flagship jobs in Manchester; Co-op Live – the £365m music venue which is the talk of the town, if not the North West.

The John Sutch Team has been busy for nearly 12 months working directly for national contractors, BAM. It’s a job that’s going tremendously well for our business.

Joe added: “We’re working hard with the ducting, air conditioning, lifting the steel – you name it, if it needs lifting either inside the stadium or outside, we do it, it’s a proper site crane.

“We’ve got a tower crane, the SK1265-AT6, which is on the exterior, we also have two 50 Tonne cranes that have been working on the interior, all three John Sutch cranes are long term hires.”