Justin Bartlett has worked around the world before settling to take over the reins at bespoke furniture and kitchen manufacturer Treske, in Thirsk.

Born in Sydney, Australia, Justin was brought up in Woodbridge in Suffolk. He attended Ipswich School playing golf, rugby and hockey whenever he could.

After school he worked picking apples and milking cows in Western Australia before travelling to New Zealand, the US and Canada.

Studying Agriculture at Newcastle University he was awarded a scholarship to study agricultural aid in Nepal.

At Newcastle Justin met his future wife Louise who was studying to become a dentist.

Following university Justin joined Chafers in Doncaster as an agronomist before joining the fertilizer and chemical sales force in East Anglia.

With a good grounding in field sales he went to Manchester Business School on the international MBA programme from which he graduated with distinction.

Following consultancy work for Hilti and for ICI Paints Justin joined the newly formed Shropshire Training and Enterprise Agency and was involved in setting up and later was chief executive of one of the first Business Links formed by the DTI to help local businesses.

Justin then started a search to buy his own small business and finally found Treske in North Yorkshire.

The combination of a great place to live for his growing family of four active sporty children and a quality company with a product made by local people, with great customer service and design potential to develop into a key business in the local area, makes this his ideal place to be.


What job would you like to have other than your own and why?

“My first love was farming which led me to taking a degree in Agriculture from Newcastle University. I had fantastic fun and made great friends. After this I worked for what was the Doncaster based Chafers as an agronomist and then in East Anglia in chemical and fertilizer sales. I remain close to farming and would have been very happy ploughing my own furrow.”


Biggest mistake?

“Not moving to Yorkshire sooner. Coming from another beautiful rural area in Suffolk I appreciate the living space and outdoor opportunities we have here in Yorkshire, as well as the quality of people and their work. I am glad that at Treske we can make a contribution to the make-up of the county.”


Greatest achievement?

“At huge personal risk and after many hours patience I have managed to make four perfect eccles cakes – similar on the outside but strong variations on the inside.”


Why do you make a difference?

“At Treske we try hard to ensure a skilled local manufacturing business can grow and be successful, employing local people and using other local trades, often for commissions that take us all well away from Yorkshire and the North East.”


What makes you most angry?

“Fly tipping and the careless disregard some people have for the beauty of our countryside. None of the people who do this would want it to happen in their own back yard.”


What do you need to make life complete?

“To play a round to scratch, and then finish the day with a favourite pint of Nick Stafford’s Hambleton Ales.”


Epitaph

“Just one last cast”