Portsmouth, UK-based force measurement equipment manufacturer Straightpoint (SP), a Crosby Group company, has added Alex Hopper to its inside sales team.

Hopper has relocated from Cheshire in England’s northwest to the south coast, where her partner has taken an in-service degree placement with the Army. Further synergy with Crosby and SP’s diverse range of load cells and other technologies—the military is just one end user marketplace that consumes its equipment—is in the fact that Hopper’s parents are also employed in the lifting sector.

Hopper, who will be based at the company’s Havant, Hampshire facility, joins Lauren Johnson, sales and customer support executive, in the inside sales team, and reports to David Ayling, global business development director for load monitoring solutions. She will principally be responsible for quoting customers for new goods, repairs and calibrations, in addition to dealing with queries from the sales team.

Hopper said: “Crosby SP was recommended to me and when I looked into the company it represented a fit with certain criteria I’m typically drawn to in that it is a small team, with a big vision and active social media presence, which is deeply proud about a range of products. The move represents a brilliant opportunity to take my career in a different direction—fittingly down a pathway already taken by my parents. As a child, I often spent time wandering around trade shows and in their offices. I guess there’s a sense of destiny about following in their footsteps somewhat.”

Having previously been employed by the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) as practice manager, Hopper is looking to leverage transferable skills in business and staff management, and organisation of employee rotas, for example. A multifaceted role saw her represent patients in liaison with laboratories and other health-related practices.

Hopper said: “The [NHS] role stands me in good stead to be successful here. Previously, I have worked in places where it was a case of ‘every man for himself’ and employees felt like a number. It is already evident that the environment at SP is very different; Lauren has been a great teacher and extended to me patience and guidance. Beyond that, the whole team has made moving companies and settling into a new part of the country much easier than it might have been.”

She added: “I am excited and a little nervous; with both my parents in the industry I think I put more pressure on myself to learn everything quickly. I just hope some of their skills and expertise have rubbed off on me. I have settled in and am starting to learn my way around the building and the software we use. Hopefully this is the start of a long journey with SP.”

In her spare time, Hopper is a keen ballroom dancer, although is yet to convince her partner to join her on the dance floor. “With the big move, settling into a new job and home, exploring the area, and emptying boxes, there isn’t time for much else,” she said.

Caption: David Ayling, global business development director for load monitoring solutions, welcomes Alex Hopper to SP’s inside sales team.

Contact for editorial enquires: Phil Roch, proch@straightpoint.com

About Straightpoint

Straightpoint, a UK manufacturer, has been providing load cells to companies around the world to ensure their loads are safe to lift, offload, pull or push for over 40 years. Straightpoint’s products are currently being used within a wide range of industries such as oil and gas, shipping, construction, renewable energies, lifting and cranes, mining, staging, test and inspection, and military applications. Products are available to buy or rent. http://www.straightpoint.com