July 2022
Can you please start by explaining a little bit about your role?
I am responsible for leading the Operations Team in the factory made up of Production staff, Continuous Improvement staff and Engineering staff. My role is primarily focussed on supporting, guiding and mentoring these teams in performing their own individual roles in the best way they can.
Being responsible for such a big team in a very busy factory means my day to day job varies hugely. I can be involved in production; working with the processes and materials to make our products, I can be working with Engineers; looking at maintenance, breakdown or project works or I can be focussed on Continuous improvement and working with out teams to find better ways of working and improving efficiency.
As a team, between us, we take the raw materials and ingredients and work them through the various processes of cooking and refining to deliver the finished products for our Commercial team to sell on.
There are lots of different area I can be involved in and always enjoy a new challenge but there are also lots of routine tasks and responsibilities that go hand with running a factory producing tons and tons of jams and chocolate products every day.
How long have you worked here? What other jobs have you held at R&W Scott?
I am coming up to my 10 year milestone with R&W Scott and can’t believe it has gone so quickly. I joined the business while we were under Renshaw as the Site Engineering Manager. I have been Head of Manufacturing. I have been Head of Engineering, Projects and CI.
I am now Head of Operations and don’t want to stop there.
How did you come to join R&W Scott?
I have worked in the food industry since I was 21 years old and not long finished my electrician apprenticeship. I worked my way up in other businesses towards Engineering Management and had an opportunity to come to Carluke and run my own team and take full responsibility for my department. I have continued to grow and develop since joining this site and look forward to what the coming years bring.
Is this the job you had always planned to do?
I didn’t have a particular industry in mind but I always knew I wanted to do something in Engineering. I started working life as an electrician, trained further in Mechatrionics and then moved into engineering in the food industry. I have always been very interested in the whole process of producing food. As my career progressed I assumed more and more responsibility for ever growing teams and found it a natural step to progress into Operations Management.
What advice would you give to someone joining the business?
Come in, get involved and enjoy it. We have a great team making great products.
What is your favourite product – past or present and why?
My favourite past product has to be a curd, probably lemon. When I was young I would have a traffic light sandwich with lemon curd, orange curd and lime curd all on one slice, like a traffic light.
My favourite current product would have to be a caramel – no explanation needed.
What would you say your biggest achievement is?
The work based achievement I am most proud of would have to be the installation of the soft icing line. We took a slow and sticky process making fondant and turned it into a smooth continuous process that has not missed a beat since we built it. Nothing is too difficult if you have the right team behind it.
If you could switch jobs with someone, who would it be and why?
I would quite like to switch places with someone in my team, not fussed on the role. I would just be keen to see if working for me is as much fun as I think it is.
If you have 3 wishes, what would you wish for?
1. Scotland to qualify for a world cup - wouldn't mind a couple of free tickets thrown in either!
2. At least 1 month of sunshine a year in this country.
3. I can eat whatever I want when I want but retain the physique of a young Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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