Meet the team

Peter Hobkirk

Chairman

Following in his father & grandfathers footsteps, Peter came into the family business in 1965. Although now semi-retired, Peter still maintains an active daily interest in the business.

Mark Hobkirk

Managing Director

Mark joined the family company in 1993. Initially specialising in the industrial side of the company, Mark became a director in 2005 and now oversees all areas of the company.

Kathy Hobkirk

Accounts Manager

Married to Mark Hobkirk, Kathy joined Hobkirks in 2007 in administration and accounts. Kathy now controls most financial issues within the company.

Tatiana Greenwood 

Retail Department

Expert sewer and dressmaker, Tatiana supports Martin in our retail sewing department.

Gordon Guest

Industrial Parts & IT

Gordon joined Hobkirks in 1987 straight from school. He has a broad knowledge of the industry and specialises in industrial parts as well as controlling the computer system and web site.

Stuart Wearden

Technical Support

Stuart also joined the company straight from school in 1989 as a trainee technician and is now responsible for the repair & service of domestic sewing machines. He is also responsible for the servicing of sewing machines in schools and colleges.

Anne Marie Read

Sewing Tutor

Anne Marie is an expert in the field of embroidery, craft & sewing. She joined Hobkirks in 2006 and organises  workshops & sewing classes. In 2010, Anne Marie beacame a freelance tutor and continues works within our dedicated classrooms.

Kath Lougheed

Retail Department

Kath’s role is within the craft department at Hobkirks known as ‘Hobby’s’. She joined in 2007 and also runs some of the in-house workshops. gg 

Dean Sands

 Technical Support

Dean has spent over 20 years in the sewing industry, many of those years abroad including several years at ASS(Designers and manufacturers 
of automated sewing systems) in Germany.
His particular area of expertise is electronics. 

Martin Whitworth

Retail Department

Martin joined the company during his school years as a Saturday assistant back in 1972. He has been with the company ever since and now manages the Blackburn shop backed by over 30 years of sewing machine knowledge.  

Joe Heaton 

Technical Support

Serving the sewing industry for most of his working career, Joe brings his expert technical knowledge to Hobkirk's industrial department.  

Steve Roughan

Technical Support

Having spent much of his working career wih Bentwood and Yamato, Steve supports the industrial service department. 

Fiona Waring

Embroidery Manageress

Fiona is the latest to join the Hobkirk team specialising in the field of embroidery.

Wendy Whyment

Bury Shop Manageress
   
Joining in 2009, Wendy's role is to run the company's Bury branch. Her career to date has always been in sewing and her area of expertise is wedding dresses.

 Nikki Hacking

 
Retail & Office Support

 Nikki joined the team in June 2010 as a trainee. She is responsible for dispatching mail and general administation duties and retail support.

Neil Smith

Parts Support

Gaining his knowledge and experience during his many years with Smith's Sewing Machine's, Neil brings his support to our expanding industrial department.

Dean Hogarth

Workshop Support

Dean plays an active roll within the industrial department, giving vital support to the industrial team.