Culture at Work: A Factory Tour of Hayley 247 Dexis

Hayley Dexis is one of the UK’s foremost providers of engineering components, consumables, and technical services. As part of Dexis Europe, the group supports manufacturers across the country through its nationwide network of over 50 branches, offering solutions in MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations), mechanical engineering, and reliability services.

At the heart of this network is Hayley 247 Dexis - the group’s specialist 24/7 engineering support centre based in the West Midlands. In June, this flagship facility hosted a Made in Group factory tour and best practice event. The visit brought together a group of 50 attendees, including members of  Made in the Midlands, Made in Yorkshire  and Hayley Dexis staff, for a morning focused on people-first leadership, engineering excellence, and operational insight.

Members connecting during the networking session at Hayley 247 Dexis.

Culture as a Strategic Weapon

The event opened with a thought-provoking talk by Adrian Easter, Group Development Director at Hayley Dexis, who has been with the company for 17 years. He outlined the business’s impressive growth - from £52 million in 2008, when he joined, to over £350 million today - and made a compelling case that behind this trajectory is a deep commitment to people and culture.

“Managing people well isn't just an operational necessity, it’s our strategic advantage,” he explained. Adrian praised the leadership of figures like Bernie Noakes, whose “light-touch management” style set clear expectations while giving people space to lead, think, and grow.

He encouraged business leaders to model values rather than just talk about them. “Culture is not what you say, it’s what you signal,” he said, advocating for recruitment based on ‘culture add’ rather than cultural sameness, to bring fresh perspectives into values-led teams.

At Hayley Dexis, culture is embedded in everyday practice, through weekly huddles, storytelling, and recognition - and evolves as the business grows. Adrian also spoke about the importance of psychological safety as the foundation of innovation. “Playing it safe is the enemy of innovation,” he added, urging leaders to build trust so employees feel empowered to speak up and improve.

He closed with a simple but powerful reminder: “The culture that got you here won’t get you there.” For Hayley Dexis, culture is not a static idea, it’s a strategic asset, actively shaped by everyone in the organisation.

Adrian Easter of Hayley Dexis on how culture drives performance and long-term growth.

Engineering Excellence: A Guided Tour Through Hayley 247 Dexis

Following Adrian’s talk, members joined a fully guided tour of the Hayley 247 Dexis facility, where engineering expertise and rapid-response capability were on full display.

In the pump repair and testing area, the team demonstrated their 30,000‑litre live test rig, used to validate performance on complex repairs for major customers like Severn Trent, Thames Water, and Jaguar Land Rover. They explained how Belzona coatings, a ceramic, brushable compound, are used to restore and enhance the hydraulic efficiency of worn pumps, often making them perform better than when new.

In the gearbox rebuild area, members saw the company’s reverse engineering and weld reclamation work, where broken or obsolete components are brought back to life. Engineers shared examples such as a weekend emergency rebuild for Veolia, where a full shaft was machined, fitted, and returned in under 72 hours. Repairs are backed by third-party testing and in-house inspection, ensuring every rebuild meets high-performance standards.

The machine shop, relocated and upgraded last year, runs 24/7 with a combination of CNC and traditional lathes. Engineers walked members through their live jobs, highlighted raw material stock used in breakdown response, and described the technical challenges of non-standard components, like tight-tolerance work and precision-machined shafts built to exacting requirements.

During the networking session, attendees got a close-up look at a WMH collaborative robot (cobot) on display, as the team explained how they’re exploring automation for repetitive processes to complement their expert-led services.

Made Members on the Hayley 247 Dexis factory tour, exploring engineering in action.

A Living Culture, Engineered for Growth

From the leadership message to the shop floor walkthrough, the event made one thing clear: Hayley 247 Dexis has built a business where culture, capability, and responsibility are fully aligned.

Whether through trust-based leadership, rapid engineering response, or smart refurbishment practices that extend the life of industrial assets, the company demonstrates that success isn’t just about scale - it’s about how you operate. Repair over replace, reclaim over discard - these aren’t just engineering choices; they reflect a values-driven approach rooted in efficiency, sustainability, and care for customers.

More than just a factory tour, this visit offered a powerful case study in how a company can grow without losing sight of what matters most: its people, its principles, and its purpose.

About Made in the Midlands Best Practice Tours

Made in Group factory tours offer members a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and share. These events highlight real operational excellence and encourage collaboration across the UK manufacturing network. Members who attend six or more tours per year receive a Best Practice Certificate, recognising their commitment to learning and leadership.

🎟 To RSVP for upcoming tours, log in to your dashboard:
www.madeinthemidlands.com/login