By Jonny Nixon, Optical Engineer and Global Co-Chair, Novanta Professionals Network
There is something special about seeing your workplace through the eyes of family and friends.
At our recent Family Day in Stockport, UK, employees welcomed loved ones on-site to experience the people, technology, and culture behind the work we do every day. What began several years ago as a way to celebrate employees has grown into an event that families genuinely look forward to. As Michelle Sheridan, UK HR Enablement Manager, shared, after our first Family Day in the new facility, one question kept coming up: When can we do it again?
This year’s event delivered on that enthusiasm.
We designed Family Day to celebrate our people while giving families and friends a chance to see firsthand what happens inside Stockport. Throughout the day, visitors enjoyed activities, food, demonstrations, and interactive experiences that brought our work to life.
One of my favorite moments was watching employees introduce family members to teammates, walk them through their workspaces, and explain what they do each day. Those conversations helped connect the work happening across the site to the people who support our employees outside of work.
A key focus this year was helping visitors understand the real-world impact of what we create.
Because guests could not enter active manufacturing areas, teams across Stockport developed a mock manufacturing experience featuring demonstration lasers, interactive displays, digital content, and a building fly-through. We also created exhibits that connected our technologies to the products and applications they ultimately enable around the world.
These experiences were not just valuable for visitors. They helped many employees better understand how their own work connects to the broader solutions we deliver and the impact those solutions have beyond our walls.
Children were invited to explore the site through a department trail, collecting clues while learning about different teams across the business. Their final answer captured something that was visible throughout the day: TEAMWORK.
After the event, we asked visitors a simple question: What do you think is cool about Novanta?
The responses ranged from “LASERS!” and “Amazing café” to “Because they make things that help” and “It takes care of its staff.”
For me, those answers reflected exactly what we hoped to achieve.
Many visitors were fascinated by the technology while others focused on the activities, food, and fun. What stood out most, however, was the pride they expressed in the people who work here and the appreciation they showed for a workplace that values employees and their families.
Family Day was a true One Novanta effort. Employees from across Stockport spent months planning activities, creating demonstrations, designing displays, preparing spaces, and welcoming guests. People stepped beyond their day-to-day responsibilities and volunteered their time to create an experience that families and friends could enjoy.
I’d also like to recognize the many employees who were not part of the core planning team but still played an important role in the event’s success. Whether they helped set up displays, prepare spaces, welcome guests, or jump in to solve last-minute challenges, their willingness to lend a hand made a real difference. Those contributions may have happened behind the scenes, but they were essential to bringing Family Day to life and a great example of the teamwork that defines Stockport.
Most importantly, Family Day reminded us that behind every employee is a network of family members and friends who support them throughout their journey. Opening our doors gave us an opportunity to strengthen those connections, share a deeper understanding of the work we do, and create lasting memories together.
Judging by the smiles and feedback we received throughout the day, Family Day achieved exactly what we hoped it would. It brought people together, celebrated the contributions of our employees, and gave families and friends a firsthand look at the innovation and teamwork that define Stockport.