After 46 years in the lifting industry, Peter Snowden is stepping into retirement, taking time to reflect on a long career that began at Coles Cranes in Sunderland.
It was there that Peter served his apprenticeship as a mechanical fitter, following in the footsteps of both his parents, who worked at Coles Cranes, with his father completing 36 years of service. As Peter puts it: “I guess it was in my DNA.” From an early stage, engineering was part of everyday life, and that early exposure helped shape the direction of his career.
As Coles Cranes became Grove Worldwide, Peter spent time in research and development before moving into a service engineer role, working across the country. This shift allowed him to gain hands-on experience in the field, supporting a wide range of lifting equipment and developing a practical understanding of the challenges faced on-site. He went on to work for Liebherr Cranes and later Lloyds Kone Cranes, where he achieved his LEEA qualifications and continued to build his expertise within the industry.
Following a ten-year spell working for Morson’s at Nissan UK, a chance meeting with James Bright at a charity shoot at Lambton led Peter to JK Lifting. Having known James from his Lloyds days, he was invited to visit the business and see first-hand how it was developing.
“I was very impressed with the company and James’ vision for the future,” Peter said. “So I came on board three years ago.”
Over the course of his career, Peter has seen the lifting industry change significantly, particularly in safety, technology and planning. What were once more reactive, hands-on jobs have evolved into highly structured operations.
“Jobs have to be so planned out nowadays with RAMS and permits. It was nothing like that in my early days.”
During his time at JK Lifting, Peter has been part of a period of growth, including the move into the company’s facility in Burradon, North Tyneside. He reflects on the variety of work as one of the most rewarding aspects of the role, with no two projects ever being the same. Each job brings its own challenges, requiring a combination of experience, teamwork and attention to detail.
“Every job at JK Lifting is different and presents challenges which, with the help of a great team, are completed to a high standard and in a safe manner.”
For Peter, it is the people who have made the biggest impact throughout his time at JK.
“They have been a fantastic group of colleagues, but most of all friends.”
As he moves into retirement, Peter leaves behind a wealth of experience and a career that has seen the industry evolve significantly over time. Looking ahead, he plans to spend more time enjoying fishing and shooting, travelling with his lovely wife, Val, and making the most of family life after recently becoming a grandad.
From everyone at JK Lifting, we thank Peter for his hard work and contribution over the past three years and wish him all the very best for the future.
