August 2025: We are proud to celebrate an extraordinary milestone — our Chief Design Technician, Mike Board, has reached 50 years of service at CU Phosco. An incredible achievement!
We spend some time to find out more about Mike, his role and what he has achieved in his 50-year journey in the company.
STARTING WITH THE BEGINNING!
Mike began his journey on Monday, 11 August 1975, joining as a Technical Assistant in the Laboratory and Drawing Office. He recalls:
“At the time, the office was located in the former Maltings in Hoe Lane, Ware. Our office was extremely hot in the summer and had a rather narrow, twisty staircase which was quite an adventure to navigate!”
In those early days, Mike worked alongside names such as Kelvin Austin and Charlie Greenstead, contributing to laboratory testing, lighting design, and product development.
EVOLVING WITH THE INDUSTRY
Over the years, Mike’s role transitioned toward product design and manufacturing, while still occasionally supporting lab work when needed. Today, as Chief Design Technician, he leads the design and detailing of a wide range of luminaires, including Road Lighting, Architectural Lighting, Floodlighting, Catenary, and Tunnel Lighting. He also designs jigs and fixtures for production, ensuring efficiency and precision across manufacturing processes.
“CU Phosco has come a long way since my early days,” Mike says. “Back then, detailed drawings were manually produced on a drawing board, and laboratory measurements required meticulous manual adjustments.”
Today, CU Phosco makes use of advanced 3D modelling software and has embraced LED technology as a core focus in our product line — a transformation Mike has witnessed and contributed to firsthand.
LIFE BEYOND WORK
Outside of work, Mike is a passionate follower of Formula 1 and MotoGP. He used to travel regularly to attend races in person — a reflection of his lifelong enthusiasm for motorsport.
In addition, Mike enjoys, music – particularly, attending live music events including his annual trips to Ronnie Scotts in London, fine dining, foreign travel, cinema visits and trawling through his modest physical media collection!
Mike also met his partner of 12 years at CU Phosco. She currently works in our Quality Assurance team, making CU Phosco a truly shared part of their lives.
AND OF HIS TIME AT CU PHOSCO?
“The last 50 years have seen some changes in the industry and also to our company. It has been a brilliant journey and I look forward to continuing with more adventures and projects in the future!”
Mike, thank you for your exceptional service, your steady hand in times of change, and your continued commitment to innovation and excellence. Your contribution to CU Phosco has been immense, and we are honoured to celebrate this milestone with you.
Here’s to the last 50 years — and the future still to come.