1. What is your role, and how long have you been in this area of work?
Role: Multiskilled Maintenance Engineer
Experience: A lifetime of hands-on experience.
Began his journey as a child, working alongside his father, a fisherman, from the age of eight. He earned pocket money and developed a "do-it-yourself" attitude.
Gained practical experience repairing boats with his brother during childhood.
After leaving the army, he returned to assist his father, focusing on fixing and maintaining equipment.
Completed both mechanical and electrical apprenticeships while working for his father.
2. What does a typical day look like in your role?
Working Hours: Starts at 6 AM and typically finishes at 2 PM but stays longer if necessary to complete tasks.
Daily Tasks:
Organising and ticking off a to-do list.
Ordering necessary resources.
Setting up Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) systems.
Recently completed HACCP Level 2.
Current Work: Primarily preventative maintenance as production is temporarily paused. The focus will shift to supporting greenhouse operations before production resumes in February or March.
Responsibilities: Free rein to manage day-to-day operations and ensure all systems run smoothly.
3. What skills, qualifications, or experience are essential for someone in your position?
Skills: Expertise in electrical and mechanical systems, welding, fabricating, plumbing, and carpentry—an all-rounder approach.
Qualifications:
HNC in Mechanical Engineering.
Minimum of 16th Edition Electrical qualification.
Experience:
Extensive hands-on experience, especially in food manufacturing.
Familiarity with industry-specific practices, like the "blue pen rule" (all cable ties and writing tools in food production are blue for easy visibility).
4. What are the biggest challenges you face in your job?
Resource Management: Ordering the correct parts and resources to meet unique needs.
Workplace Challenges:
Operatives not following instructions, which can lead to major equipment damage.
Untrained staff interfering with machinery, creating additional work for engineers.
5. What do you enjoy most about your job?
Problem-Solving: Loves the challenge of diagnosing and resolving technical issues, figuring out solutions, and gathering the necessary materials.
Team Building: Enjoys helping others, mentoring team members, and fostering a collaborative environment.
Team Dynamics: Thrives on building rapport and working with colleagues, bouncing ideas off each other.
6. What are the career opportunities in Engineering?
Opportunities: Engineering offers diverse pathways, including mechanical, electrical, programming, controls, civil, and software engineering.
Challenges in Progression:
Youngsters are less inclined to pursue engineering careers.
Internal progression is rare, as engineers often lack managerial experience due to being "on the tools" and not involved in administrative tasks.
Companies frequently hire external candidates for management roles to avoid losing skilled engineers from the shop floor.
