PUBLISHED 25 April 2024
We were delighted to welcome Old Arnoldian, John Hutt, to AKS Lytham last week. John has been recognised by the school as a notable alumnus and featured as a keynote speaker as part of the schools careers programme. During his visit, John shared with our Sixth Form students a fascinating insight into his career.
John attended Arnold School from 1978 to 1983 and is the Principal and Chairman of HTI Toys UK Ltd with its Head Office in Fleetwood. Founded in 1952, HTI is the UK’s largest privately owned designer, manufacturer and distributor of children’s toys selling to over 60 countries worldwide.
John started the session by sharing with students that you need to enjoy your work and be passionate about it as this is the key driver to success. John has a few sayings and this is one of his favourites that he shared in the session “Follow your dreams”.
John explained to students that he didn’t enjoy exams and was neither academic nor sporty at school. However, he learnt very early in his life that hard work and determination were key characteristics to success. A few weeks before his exams one of his teachers sat down with him and gave him some careers advice that would change the course of his future. He advised John that it would be a good move to go into business so John joined Bispham Tech and studied Business Studies. Alongside studying, John worked at a local hotel and then saw an advert in a local paper “Importer seeks sales administrator”.
John joined HTI (formerly David Halsall Ltd) in January 1987 aged 19 as a sales administrator and, through a combination of determination, passion and sacrifice for the business, progressed to becoming a main board director by the age of 28.
In 2006, just 11 years later, he bought the company. Now employing over 200 people worldwide, HTI has enjoyed steady growth after the main driver became international sales which now represent over 70% of the total business.
In addition to passion, determination and working hard, John concluded that whatever path the Sixth Form students pursue after leaving AKS they need to do what they love and this is aligned with one of AKS’s Values – Pursue your Passion.
He concluded by saying "Your work is going to fill a large part of your life and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. The only way to do great work is to love what you do. Don’t settle for less”.
Thank you, John Hutt, for inspiring our students and sharing how hard work, perseverance and doing what you enjoy are key components to finding your own path for life after school.