As ILE celebrates its 50th anniversary, the occasion is more than a business milestone — it’s a reflection of the vision, perseverance, and community spirit that carried it through five decades. To mark the occasion, we sat down with Janet Lycett, whose perspective offers a deeply personal view of the company’s journey. From the earliest days of her husband’s vision to the legacy now carried forward, she shares stories, insights, and reflections that bring the company’s history to life.
This is such a remarkable milestone. When you look back, what are your earliest memories of the company?
I remember Derek always being excited by the post arriving. Orders in those days came by mail and he used to announce to our small group of employees when we were sent new orders. We’d then wait for the second post to give us more work to do.
In those days we were trading in Rotherhithe, and Derek and I used to drive the fifteen miles from Chingford every day. The traffic was so much lighter then. One of our employees would drive from Essex and pick up six members of staff on the way, so Derek bought him a seven-seater Peugeot car to help everyone get to work.
Also, we all used to go to the same pub for lunch. I think we all felt like a close-knit group, as we were such a small company and everyone helped each other.
How did you and your husband first talk about the business when it was just starting out? Did you ever imagine it would still be thriving 50 years later?
Derek had been made redundant in a previous job, and he vowed that it would never happen to him again. He wanted his own business so he could control his own destiny, and he employed his friends to help him create a team. At the time, I don’t think either of us could imagine the company trading for 50 years, but we began with such a strong belief that we’d be successful that it just gradually became true. We were young, of course, and had a young family. The future of the company was often something we thought about on a week-by-week basis. However, as Derek grew in confidence, so did the business.
You’ve seen the company grow from the sidelines, and sometimes right in the middle of it. What role did you play in supporting the journey?
Initially, I was Bob Deevy’s secretary. Bob and Derek were 50/50 partners and Derek thought that it would be more productive if I worked with Bob. I had a secretarial background, and Bob loved long letters – so my short-hand skills were very useful! Eventually, as Bob left to form Thames Valley Controls, I moved to instead run the business accounts. I also became the informal HR department which allowed me to support team members where needed.
What were some of the toughest challenges you remember during those early decades, and how did you both get through them?
It was very difficult to learn all you needed to know to run a business. We’d often learn things by speaking to friends. There was no Google to make things easy for us, so we’d sometimes find help in strange places. I remember that we had a visit from HMRC in our first year of trading, and the inspector asked to see our P60s. I explained that not only did we not have them, but I also did not know what they were. We ended up having just enough time to produce them, and the inspector stayed and helped me to create the number required.
The biggest challenge was always finding staff that you could rely on. Derek was very good at finding supply partners, but he relied heavily on me to offer insights and feedback on the team.
The culture of a company often reflects its founder. In what ways do you see Derek’s personality and values still alive in the business today?
Derek’s personality has been kept alive through our three children, who have all shaped ILE’s identity today. Peter is no longer with us, but he was imaginative and very technical just as Derek was. Nancy is the leader who works hard to keep the team pulling together, and Simon is reliable and thorough in his support of all our employees through careful administration of ILE statutory obligations.
Thinking about milestones, are there particular turning points or achievements that stand out to you from 50 years of ILE?
It was a big moment for ILE when Derek obtained the distribution rights for GAL in 1985. He’d predicted it would be well received when introducing it to the London council market, and he was right.
Another key milestone was when ILE began manufacturing in Leicester. Derek had bought a small fabrication company and started making doors to pair with GAL imports, controllers, cabins, and rafts.
Today, ILE has 70 employees working in Leicester, and our London site has moved from Rotherhithe to Chingford to avoid the worsening traffic. We’ve been lucky to find loyal, local people to join our team at every stage of our business growth.
Beyond your family, this company has touched many people. How have you seen ILE impact employees, clients, or the community over the years?
We now have 100 employees, many who have worked with us for more than 20 years – some even 30 years or longer. I think that as a family business we have never moved away from wanting to help our team reach their potential. We have been fair to suppliers, always paying promptly, while treating customers with flexibility when they have needed it. We are a listening company, and I believe that’s something that makes us unique.
All of your children became involved in the business over the years. What has it meant to you to see them carry forward their father’s vision?
It’s been great to see them all grow in their respective roles. I think they all joined ILE for different reasons and have had their fair share of challenges, but I also believe that all three have found success and happiness working in the business.
Q: Your daughter has now stepped into the role of Managing Director. How proud are you of her, and what advice have you shared with her as she leads the company into the future, especially in a male dominated industry?
I think the good thing about today is that there is a much healthier understanding of what women are good at. Nancy is a clever woman who has worked enormously hard to lead the company. It is not easy to hold so much responsibility, and I know that she is very much helped by the people around her – including her brother Simon and the members of the senior leadership team. Everyone has different skills and are happy to take on responsibility. Derek always had the support of his team; first Bob Deevy, and then Bob Randall and our son Peter. It is hard to be successful on your own. Nancy makes countless decisions every day, but most of the tough ones are shared with her senior management.
As you celebrate the half-century mark, what does this milestone mean to you personally?
I still come in to the office most days. I enjoy seeing everyone and I have known so many of the staff for so many years that they have become friends. I am proud of my family who have stayed loyal to each other and reached this incredible milestone together. Family businesses can cause division, but if anything my children have grown much closer from having worked together.
I wish that Derek could have seen just how much ILE has achieved in its 50 years. I am sure he would also be immensely proud
Looking ahead, what advice would you give the current leadership as they carry the company into the next 50 years?
There are many challenges today which Derek would never have experienced. There is fierce competition, and work can chase you at all hours with emails and mobiles. It is important to remember that we are a team, and we all retain the values of our founder. Our current team share a strong sense of ILE being about quality and support. I believe that is what Derek wanted to build, and it is no less true today.
Finally, when people think of Derek’s vision and legacy, what do you hope they remember most?
I hope that they remember that work can – and should be – fun. My husband and his son Peter went to work with friends, and sold to more friends. The supply chain they constructed meant international friendships.
When we go to work, we do something that makes us feel proud of ourselves and of those around us. That says everything about the old and the new ILE.
As ILE looks toward its next chapter, the stories shared by Janet Lycett remind us that success is built not only on strategy and innovation, but also on values, resilience, and family support. Her words bring to life the heart behind the business — a heart that has carried it through half a century and continues to inspire the generations that follow.
