Q. What is your favourite part of the job?
A. My favourite part of the job has to be seeing a new fabrication going from drawing to product. There’s nothing more rewarding then knowing you’ve been able to manufacture an item to a high standard that was once 2D on a piece of paper.
Q. What job did you have before working in Babcock?
A. Before I started my apprenticeship, I worked in a care home as a domestic assistant and being a home for dementia patients it did come with some very challenging and tough days. Alongside this I also studied and completed a NVQ level 2 in Fabrication at a local college.
Q. What do you love about living in the South West?
A. What’s not to love? The South West is great, you have the beach one side and the moors on the other and you’re able to get a pasty in-between. I’ve lived in Plymouth all my life and I couldn’t think of anywhere I’d rather work and relax. You can’t beat the Barbican on a beaming hot summer’s day!
Q. What do you do to relax away from work?
A. You can’t beat a cold pint at the pub after a long day at the ‘office’ and seeing all your mates. But there’s nothing more relaxing than my favourite thing to be doing outside of work, clay pigeon shooting.
Q. What is the most challenging task/project you have worked on at Babcock?
A. To be honest, every task comes with its own challenges and it’s hard to say which is the most challenging as they can vary so much. It could be meeting a deadline for the Navy to move back on board so all our tasks have to be complete and out the door, or it could be a new unfamiliar job has come in and you have to work out the best and safest way to complete the task. The challenges change day to day.
Q. Talk me through your typical day
My typical day:
- Wake up bright and early
- Get in to work around 06:30 and sit down with some toast.
- Once the clock turns 07:30 I get up and carry on with my previous task or await my First Line Manager (FLM) for a new one.
- I’ll then plan out my task, what’s involved, who I need to see for extra assistance with manufacturing.
- After a hard mornings graft I then sit down for lunch before seeing out the rest of the day continuing with the task in hand and if needed I have a sit down with my boss to update him on any tasks I am the lead on.
- Sometimes my day can be a little different with my local Accident Prevention Team (APT) meeting added in. This is where the area managers and safety reps meet with the production manager to talk about the improvement of safety in our area.
Q. What project/platform are you currently working on?
A. I’m currently the leading hand in the Production Cell (09) Plate shop section. We fabricate a wide range of different products from vent sections, cabin/boot lockers, medical lockers and larger units for Submarines and type 23 frigates. We are given the best training and guidance from our mentors during our apprenticeship to be able to complete any fabrication task given to us, even if you need to ask for a little help along the way.
Q. Describe your job in 3 words
A. Challenging, varied and rewarding.
Read about your role as a Fabricator in Devonport
