At Ergo, we value hard work and dedication above everything else, and we believe in taking care of our colleagues and empowering them throughout their career with Ergo. Our Life at Ergo series celebrates those journeys and the incredible individuals behind them.
This feature highlights Les McAvinue, who made the bold decision 30 years ago to leave his job and join a relatively young venture known as “Ergo”. His story is one that highlights the importance of hard work, dedication, loyalty, and experience, offering a wealth of knowledge to everyone he works with.
We asked Les three questions about his experience:
You’ve been part of Ergo for 30 years! What first drew you to the company, and what has kept you here for so long?
What drew me to Ergo back then was the opportunity to progress my career. I worked in the same organisation as John Purdy did before he and Tim set up Ergo and I knew I would be part of a driven company with a desire to grow, knowing within this environment, once I conducted myself as necessary, I too could grow.
As to what’s kept me here so long – I love it. I love the people I work with and many of those I have worked with in the past. I think my own values are very much aligned to those of Ergo over the years – hard work, a drive to succeed, constantly pushing boundaries, willing to ensure we serve our customers as they’re paying us to do so and all the while, have some fun whilst doing all of this. I have always said over the years, Ergo was an environment where simply being present was a learning, and being the observant type, I reaped massive rewards from simply doing my job. I take my job very serious, but I had some of the best laughs working in Ergo over the years.
Looking back, what are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen at Ergo, and how have those shaped your own career journey?
When it’s said that change is constant in Ergo, it really is, and this has kept us on our toes constantly. Some of the biggest changes that stand out for me were our move into the Eastpoint building back in 2010 – having come from the building on the Richmond Rd, this move made a statement that Ergo intended to move its offerings onto a new level.
I also recognise the change of the guard when John & Paul changed seats, Paul moving into the CEO role – two different characters and styles, but a masterstroke at the time in handing over the mantle to Paul who has executed his role and accelerated growth over his tenure. Different leadership styles, but the utmost respect for both in how they execute. Within all these changes, I did whatever was asked of me at the time, always willing to give my everything to Ergo & our customers and being fulfilled in doing so.
What advice would you give to someone starting out today who hopes to build a long and successful career like yours at Ergo?
Work hard and smart. Leverage off others, there are so many people within Ergo willing to help – us of an older generation have all been the beneficiary of advice and guidance from others and as such, I feel very strongly it’s on us to give back. Don’t be afraid to seek out opportunities, to tell your manager where you’d like to get – it’s incumbent on them to aid you as best they can – everyone wins if we simply look out for one another. I think the opportunities that Presidio lends itself are boundless and as individuals, we should all do our utmost to ensure we make this a thriving success. This success will be determined by people and if we continue to foster an environment where we care for others, it cannot be anything other than a massive success. I really look forward to what the next chapter brings.
Les’s story is a great example of how hard work, dedication, and patience shape the success and longevity in your career. Stay tuned for more Life at Ergo features as we continue to celebrate the people behind Ergo.
Interested in joining our team? Explore our careers page and discover how you can grow with us.
