Wrightbus marks Father’s Day with 19 pairs of fathers and sons working side by side!

John and Nathan McLeister

Leading zero-emission bus manufacturer Wrightbus is giving a whole new meaning to the number 19 this Father’s Day, celebrating 19 pairs of fathers and sons who work side by side across the company’s Ballymena operations.

From the shop floor to senior management, these family duos embody the deep-rooted sense of loyalty and pride that has long characterised the Northern Ireland-based manufacturer.

One such pair is Global Sales Director John McLeister and his son Nathan, who joined the company in 2022. Reflecting on their shared professional journey, John said:

“It’s a real privilege seeing my son come into the company and grow in his role. Watching his progression unfold has not only made me proud as a father, but it’s also given him a real insight into the kind of work I’ve been doing throughout his formative years. It’s brought a new level of understanding and connection between us.”

Nathan, now UK Commercial Manager, recalls how his father’s longstanding career with Wrightbus influenced his own path:

“My dad has worked at Wrightbus for as long as I can remember. Growing up just outside Ballymena, I would often pass the factory and always knew that’s where he worked. I also remember him giving me model buses, which I still have today.

William and Jason Lorimer

“When I finished university and moved back home, I realised the huge amount of different roles that were available at Wrightbus, and the great opportunities it offered locally.”

Manufacturing Manager William Lorimer, who will mark an impressive 40 years with the firm next year, has worked alongside his son Jason for nearly half of that time.

“We get to spend a lot of time together and watching him progress through the company fills me full of pride,” William said.

“While it also means that we’re never able to switch off – talking about work at the dinner table or over the weekend – bus-building is something we just have in common. I wouldn’t change it.”

Jason, who began as an apprentice in 2007 and now holds the role of Head of Output, highlighted the personal and professional support he’s received from his father throughout his career:

“Over the last 18 years I have developed through various roles, all with different challenges, but the good thing is that I always had someone to ask for advice, someone I could give scenarios to and who I was able to trust.

“If there were weeks that got on top of me, I was able to discuss over the dinner table or at the weekend and he always listened or gave me advice on similar situations he was involved in.”

Wrightbus CEO Jean-Marc Gales praised the invaluable contributions of multi-generational employees, emphasising the blend of innovation and tradition that sets the company apart:

“We always say Wrightbus is like a family but these people prove it, quite literally, and our business is all the better for it.

“Father’s Day is a really special day in the calendar but this is our turn to celebrate the fathers who work here alongside their children every day, helping Wrightbus become the best bus manufacturer in the world.”

As Wrightbus continues to lead the way in zero-emission transport solutions, it’s clear that family values and local roots remain central to the company’s success — with the next generation helping to drive the future of sustainable transport forward.