Dave Hills

Hi, I’m Dave, Andy’s partner-in-crime and the other half of the Discovering Days dream team!

Like Andy, I’ve come into the world of children’s playground furniture through a slightly circuitous route, although I have always been in the wider play industry in one way or another. In fact, between us, we have over 40 years of experience in the play sector – now you can’t sniff at that, can you?!

In the past, I have worked for both the private sector and the public sector, through the local authority, doing both general groundworks and playground fitting. In fact, I was once a specialist fitter of rubber flooring for playgrounds, a skill that I have brought with me into my work with first Swings and Roundabouts and now Discovering Days too.

However, I genuinely feel that my move to working with Andy and setting up the company we have now was the best thing I ever did, as knowing we have done a good job at the end of the day is very important to me. I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I thought our substandard work was endangering kids in any way, so the Discovering Days’ ethics of quality and safety are close to my heart.

As a dad of three, you can see why I would care so much?! As the (very) proud father of 2 boys, aged 16 and 13, and 1 girl, aged 3, it has always been important to me to be able to think that my kids were safe when playing in a playground, whether that be at school or down the local park.

But it ain’t all about work, work, work; occasionally I get to go home and do other things besides. One thing I am passionate about, like Andy, is music, although our tastes are somewhat different! I am currently learning to play the drums – much to my gorgeous wife’s annoyance! – but I also love listening to my music, especially my 70s funk and jazz. You’ve gotta love a bit of 70s funk!

Another passion of mine is Burnley Football club; as an avid football fan, I love going to watch my local team, especially when I get to take my lads along and share a father-son bonding moment over an afternoon of screaming. Come on The Clarets!

Like Andy with his music though, don’t get me started on football when we’re on site, or you’ll never shut me up! Mainly because my team are the best and there’s no point arguing.

So, if you’d like to get hold of me – to discuss football, drumming or our super-cute little uns’ workbench  – then you can drop me an email at sales@discoveringdays.co.uk