Colin Torley retires
12th May 2020

Colin Torley has announced he is retiring after 35 years in the window industry – including nearly 28 years with Veka.

Colin. Now 60, joined the industry with Everest in 1988 before moving on to Solaglass CDW but is best remembered for his time with Veka where he says he was proud to be part of the team that turned it into ‘the No 1 systems company in the UK.

He takes up the story: “I joined Veka in 1988, which was only two years after they set up in the UK. Initially joining in a sales position for Scotland and Ireland, I went on to become Product and Customer service manager and then became sales and Marketing Director in 2005 until I left the company in 2016.

I really loved my time with Veka, but never moved the family from Scotland so it meant a lot of travelling and staying away from home. It was a fantastic experience working with Veka and extremely enjoyable as I had the best support team anybody could ever have asked for.

Because of the travelling, he explained: “I missed a lot of my three kids growing up and when my grandson was born in Sept 2015, I felt it was time for a change and reluctantly, but through choice, It was time to move on, closer to home.”

He took on the Interim role of Managing Director with Andrew Wright Windows in Irvine but was still commuting 180 miles each day.

“I then went on partner Alex Gray for over two years to bring together four manufacturing companies and turn them into the extremely successful Saveheat Group.

“In March 2019 I joined the largest window manufacturer in Scotland, CMS Windows in Castlecary, as Market Development Director. A fantastic company with a great future, but being based in Cumbernauld and East Kilbride and me being based in East Lothian, the 3 to 4 hours travelling each day became a huge burden.

“I have loved my time in the Industry and would like to take the opportunity to wish all the people I have worked with all the best.”