Where are you from?
I was born in Hull and have lived in East Hull all my life.
What did you do before joining KWL?
From leaving school I started work at 8am on 8th of the 8th 1988 as an apprentice electrician, which could have been a lucky sign.
During my apprenticeship, I was Craft Apprentice of the Year for two consecutive years. Ten years later I became a supervisor, then senior supervisor to the assistant maintenance manager.
I’m very proud of my achievements and feel that I’ve been on quite a journey through my career.
How long have you worked at KWL?
I started my role with KWL as Business Unit Leader on the 1st April 2007.
What’s your role at KWL?
I’m now the Chief Operations Officer and a Chartered Manager.
I work on a wide range of activities and my role is to lead, manage and support the managers and their teams. My days are very varied which makes life interesting.
I could be in negotiations with the trade unions in a morning, visiting sites in an afternoon and then meeting new apprentices and their parents at an event on an evening. No two days are the same.
What do you enjoy the most about working at KWL?
There are two key things that really make my job enjoyable.
One is making a positive difference to the lives of the people that we work for. If we’re meeting our targets it inevitably leads to having satisfied customers and clients. If we’re attending jobs when we’re expected to and completing repairs right first time, the customer is receiving the service they deserve to be given.
Another key point is the people I work with. Work is a big part of my life, so the people who I work with are really important.
What advice would you give to young people who want a job like yours?
I’d encourage anyone who’s looking for an apprenticeship, or simply a change in job, to fill in an application form.
KWL is an excellent company to work for, and if you have the right outlook there’s opportunity to progress through the company. I can vouch for that!
