New Product Advisor brings almost 25 years of industry experience to Jiraffe
Jiraffe, the UK distribution division of postural support specialists Jenx, has gained almost 25 years of industry experience with the recruitment of Craig Ward as Product Advisor.
Craig officially joined Jiraffe this February, after choosing to leave his role as a Trusted Assessor and Manager for a night-time positioning company specialising in dementia care and progressive illnesses for adults to pursue his strong passion for working in paediatrics.
Before that, Craig had spent around 21 years working for an international postural support specialist in various roles. This included supporting global training programs and new product development across the UK, America and Europe.
He’d always had a keen interest in working with children, which started when he worked in a nursery assisting children with various complex disabilities whilst completing the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme at his old school in Leeds.
Craig said: “I wanted to get back into true paediatrics, I missed working with the children and fantastic life-changing equipment.
“I’ve always loved what I do. It’s a privilege to work with young people and a really nice feeling to make the slightest difference. Just to make a little adjustment to a seating or standing position that makes it function a little bit better is an incredible feeling.
“I’d always had a yearning to work for Jenx and Jiraffe as I’m familiar with the company’s founders Clive and Catherine, and have got to know many of their sales staff in a friendly capacity over the years, so I know what a good company it is – it’s like working for a family.
“All the work is done for all the right reasons, all by lovely people who are motivated by what they do – they’re not money driven, they are there to make a difference.”
As part of Craig’s role as a Product Advisor, he is responsible for talking to children and their parents from his assigned areas to assess their needs and identify which product would be best suited to improve their quality of life.
Craig added: “It’s lovely when you can bring the children into it especially so they can communicate about what they want to achieve – whether that’s being part of a lesson in school or everyday life in society.
“We also work closely with the therapists, who really trust and appreciate us. They see us as an extension of their therapy team– it’s a really good team effort.”
Holly Jenkins, Director at Jiraffe, said: “Craig has been a well-known name across our industry for many years now, and we’re delighted he’s bringing his enormous breadth of skills and experience into the Jiraffe family.”
Jiraffe, launched in 2014, is the UK distribution division of Jenx, a family-run company established in 1982 by a paediatric physiotherapist and a product designer with the aim of enriching lives and changing perceptions about disability.
In January, Jenx’s co-founders, Clive and Catherine Jenkins, announced their retirement. The couple’s vision for Jenx was for “a better life and a brighter future for children with special needs” and almost four decades after its establishment, the company has developed into an internationally renowned market leader which employs more than 200 staff.