In 2026, Senior Buyer Mark Anderson celebrates an impressive milestone: 10 years with ECL Civil Engineering.
Over the past decade, Mark has become far more than a familiar face in the buying department. He’s a trusted industry expert, a source of daily entertainment in the office and, according to those who know him best, one of the genuine characters that make ECL what it is.
To mark the occasion, we spoke with Mark’s manager, Paul McSkimming, and colleague Marcus Knight to reflect on the journey of a man whose personality is every bit as memorable as his product knowledge.
Long before he joined ECL, Mark had already established a successful career working within the merchant side of the industry. In fact, ECL knew Mark well before he ever walked through the door as an employee. At the time, Paul McSkimming and Lee Babb oversaw both the plant and buying functions. As the company expanded and the departments grew, the decision was made to recruit a dedicated Buyer.
The obvious choice was someone they already trusted.
“We brought Mark in from a merchant we dealt with every day,” Paul recalls. “We’d built a really good relationship with him before he joined ECL.”
The move quickly proved to be a smart one. Mark’s years on the supplier side gave him a unique insight into pricing, availability, supplier relationships and market trends.
“He knew how the merchants operated because he’d been on the other side of the fence. He understood where there was flexibility, where the challenges were and how to negotiate the best possible deals.”
Ask Paul and Marcus for their first impressions of Mark, and the answers arrive instantly. “He was a bit of a joker,” says Paul. “A whirlwind,” adds Marcus with a smile.
Ten years later, neither description feels far off the mark. Whether he’s speaking to suppliers, colleagues or customers, Mark has a natural ability to mix business with banter. He’s the kind of person who can negotiate an order, solve a problem and still leave everyone laughing by the end of the conversation.
“When he’s on the phone, he’ll always have a chat and a joke while getting the job done,” says Paul. “He’s just great to deal with.”
His sense of humour has become one of his trademarks and plays a big part in the atmosphere of the office. But, behind the jokes and one-liners is someone who genuinely cares about both his work and the people around him. The buying department can be a demanding environment where priorities shift quickly, and pressure is never far away.
“He handles pressure badly,” Marcus laughs. “He flaps straight away.”
Paul agrees. “If Mark is stressed, everyone knows about it. He’s not one to keep things bottled up.”
But for both colleagues, that’s simply evidence of how invested he is.
“That’s because he genuinely cares,” Paul explains. “He cares how ECL is doing, how projects are progressing and how the people around him are getting on.”
And when things are going well, that same passion lifts everyone around him. “If he’s in a good mood, he lifts the whole office. His energy is infectious.”
If there’s one thing that both Paul and Marcus agree on, it’s Mark’s willingness to help others. After decades in the industry, he has built an exceptional level of product knowledge and practical experience that colleagues regularly rely on.
“If I ask him something, he’ll find the answer out for me straight away,” says Marcus. “You can always rely on him.”
Whether it’s technical guidance, supplier knowledge or helping a new starter settle into the role, Mark is always willing to share his experience.
Outside the office, Mark’s passions are never far from conversation.
He’s a lifelong Chelsea supporter, a proud family man and, according to those who’ve shared a social event with him, someone who enjoys making the most of a night out. “He talks about his children and grandchildren all the time,” says Paul. “Family means a lot to him.”
And then there is….how could we forget…. DJ Mr Maz, Whoop… Whoop…. captivating audiences with house mixes, showing he’s equally adept behind the decks as he is handling purchase orders.
Over the last 10 years, Mark has become an important part of the fabric of ECL. He’s knowledgeable, dedicated, passionate, loyal and never too far away from a joke.
When asked to sum him up, Paul and Marcus both arrived at the same conclusion. “He’s generally a nice guy. He’d help anyone.”
And perhaps that’s the best description of Mark Anderson there is.
Congratulations on 10 years, Mark. Thank you for everything you’ve contributed to ECL. Here’s to many more years of success, laughter and stories still to come.
