"There is always something happening,” Richard Sellick, Branch Manager says with a smile as the phones continue ringing around the Exeter branch. “That’s what makes it enjoyable.”
Inside HAYLEY DEXIS Exeter, the pace is constant.
Orders move quickly across desks. Conversations happen in shorthand. Teams solve problems in real time while supporting customers across food production, agriculture, quarries, breweries, hospitals and engineering businesses throughout the South West.
From the outside, the Matford Way site looks clean, modern and organised. Inside, it feels far more than a trade counter or distribution point.
It feels like a branch built around responsiveness, relationships and local knowledge.
One story Richard shared during the visit captured that perfectly.
A creamery had suffered a major motor and gearbox failure over a weekend, putting a large production batch at risk. The Exeter team coordinated directly with a manufacturer, arranged a specially built replacement unit and had it couriered to site within hours.
“Without that speed, they would have lost the batch,” Richard explained. “We knew there wasn’t time for adjustments or modifications. It had to fit straight in and get them running again.”
Moments like that reveal the role branches like Exeter quietly play behind the scenes of British industry.
Built Through Relationships
Richard joined the Exeter branch more than fourteen years ago after leaving a completely different industry. His father-in-law, Rob Metters, encouraged him to come across and “have a go.”
That decision changed the course of his career.
Rob himself played a major role in building the Hayley Dexis South West operation, first developing relationships in the region through the Bristol branch before opening the original Exeter site.
“He built the relationships first,” Richard recalled. “Then once there was enough business there to prove it could work, the branch started growing.”
What began as a small operation with only a handful of people has since grown into a purpose-built 14,500 sq ft facility employing around 30 staff and generating approximately £11 million annually.
But listening to Richard speak, the story feels personal rather than corporate.
“There’s a lot of pride in what we’ve achieved,” he said. “From nothing to where we are now - and we’re still growing.”
Understanding the South West
“What works in the Midlands doesn’t necessarily work in Devon.”
Richard returns to that point several times during the visit.
The South West has its own industrial identity: quarrying, agriculture, dairies, breweries, food production and engineering businesses all operating with different needs and expectations.
The Exeter branch adapts around those industries accordingly.
“We’re treated almost like little independent businesses,” Richard explained. “As long as we’re doing the right things for the customer and growing the business, we’re trusted to make decisions locally.”
That flexibility has helped the branch respond quickly during periods of disruption.
When supply chain concerns around oil shortages started emerging, the Exeter team increased stock levels early after sensing problems ahead.
“We could see where things were going,” Richard said. “So we acted early.”
That decision protected existing customers while also attracting new ones whose suppliers had struggled to respond quickly enough.
Building Skills, Not Just Supplying Parts
One of the most interesting developments at the Exeter site is its investment in training.
The branch now hosts BFPA-certified hydraulic and pneumatic courses, making it one of only a small number of HAYLEY DEXIS locations in the UK able to offer officially recognised certification.
For Richard, the idea came directly from conversations with customers.
Many South West businesses wanted to upskill their engineers, but sending staff across the country for training created additional cost, travel and time away from work.
“We knew there was an appetite for it,” Richard explained. “Customers wanted the training, but once you add hotels, travel and downtime, it becomes expensive.”
The Exeter team looked at the available space within the branch and decided to create something useful for the wider region.
Today, the training room regularly hosts hydraulic and pneumatic courses, with sessions often booked months in advance.
Richard believes the safety aspect is especially important.
“With hydraulics, if you don’t know what you’re doing, it can be extremely dangerous,” he said. “For the sake of proper training and certification, it’s invaluable.”
The investment reflects something wider about the branch itself.
It is not only focused on supplying products. It is investing in skills, people and the long-term strength of manufacturing in the South West.
HAYLEY DEXIS Exeter’s training centre supports South West businesses with BFPA-certified hydraulic and pneumatic courses, helping engineers build practical skills closer to home.
A Branch Built Around People
Despite the fast pace of the operation, the atmosphere inside the branch feels grounded and collaborative.
Richard describes the team as close-knit, with staff regularly supporting one another during difficult sourcing requests or urgent breakdown situations.
“If one person has a problem, we all have a problem,” he said.
That mindset becomes visible quickly while walking around the branch. Conversations move freely across desks. People check in on one another. Problems get solved collectively.
“We all want to win,” Richard added. “Everyone here wants the branch to succeed.”
As HAYLEY DEXIS celebrates 50 years in business, Exeter offers a strong example of why local branches still matter.
Not simply because they hold stock, but because they understand the industries around them, build long-term relationships and respond quickly when customers need support.
Most people will never see that side of manufacturing.
But spend enough time inside Exeter and one thing becomes very clear: modern industry still depends heavily on people who know their customers, understand their region and genuinely care about keeping businesses moving.
Members of the HAYLEY DEXIS Exeter team outside the branch’s trade counter in Matford Way.