A MAN who started out as a trainee with builders’ merchant JT Dove 22 years ago has been named as the manager of its new £1.5m North-East base.

Martin Jakolins has been named as general manager of the 1.6 acre site in Stockton, which opened recently to supply to both trade and public.

He started out with JT Dove as a trainee salesperson, and after leaving the company briefly, he returned three years ago to manage its old Stockton site.

Now, Mr Jakolins, who will manage a team of 16, said he is looking forward to the prospect of developing the facility on the town’s Portrack Interchange Business Park.

“So much has changed in the time I have been with the company.

“Back when I first started working for JT Dove, our sole customer base was trade people, but now the emphasis is on servicing both the trade and retail sector.

“The company has adapted to a changing market place and this is reflected in the many new developments occurring within JT Dove at present,”

he said.

The Stockton site includes a 15,000sq ft warehouse, and is the company’s tenth outlet, and JT Dove’s first opening this year, which is also its 140th year in business.

Last year, it relocated to £1.6m headquarters in Newburn, on Tyneside.