OAL News
Spotlight on a career as Automation Development and Support Team Leader
Ethan Stone, 26, is an Automation Development and Support Team Leader at OAL. He lives in Alconbury with his fiancée.
Day in the life of…
Ethan Stone
Ethan Stone is an Automation Development and Support Team Leader at OAL. He lives in Alconbury.
My alarm goes off…
At 7.30am. I’m not a breakfast person so I generally get up and head straight for the shower to wake myself up. I then get dressed and try to wait for my partner to return from her night shift before I head off or sometimes I head straight into work.
I’m responsible for…
The day to day running of my department, which consists of myself and four other engineers. I lead the Factory Systems Automation team, and we are mainly responsible for the line management system (LMS), which is a production line automation solution providing performance monitoring to help increase efficiency within factories. I report to my manager with frequent updates on how we are doing to ensure we deliver the best for our customers. As the primary contact for the department both internally and externally I spend a lot of time speaking with current and prospective clients.
I got the job…
Based upon my previous experience working within automation in the oil and gas industry. I showed that I had a real passion for problem solving, which is ideal for OAL. I flourish in a setting that gives me autonomy to come up with practical solutions to hard technical problems – something I get to put into practice every day!
My typical day…
Could be anything! It could range from interpreting customer requirements and building a proposal for them or I could be working on any of the stages during our project lifecycle, from specification or development to testing and commissioning. Or I could be out and about supporting our customers with one of our existing systems. No two days are the same!
My most memorable moment…
Was graduating from my HNC in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. This was four years of education in parallel to working full time, including being on-call out of hours. It was hard work but it certainly paid off! I never saw myself wearing the gown and walking in a procession to celebrate my education in a cathedral but I’m so glad I did it.
The worst part of my job is…
That there sometimes aren’t enough hours in the day! It can feel like for every item I tick off my to do list, two more get added!
The best part of my job is…
Interacting with experienced engineers across a range of disciplines. From process engineers to plant operators – it’s a two-way conversation. Also, seeing something you’ve developed in action in real life; it’s really rewarding.
After work…
I drive home and cook dinner together with my fiancée. We then chill out and have some well-deserved rest and catch up with each other – I love finding out how her shift at the hospital was and what interesting patients she’s encountered.
Would you like to get involved in developing market-leading automation solutions? We are always on the look out for talented individuals, so get in touch to find our more!
Spotlight on a career as Installation Electrician
Will Woodham, 22, is an Installation Electrician at OAL. He lives in a small village outside Spalding.
Day in the life of…
Will Woodham
Will Woodham is an Installation Electrician at OAL. He lives in a small village outside Spalding.
My alarm goes off…
Usually in the early hours of the morning! The exact time depends on which site I’m working on, it could be anywhere in the U.K. and sometimes in Europe!
I’m responsible for…
Installing electrical systems for all of our solutions at our customers’ sites alongside my colleagues.
I got the job…
Originally through an apprenticeship scheme in 2014. My sister works for one of our customers, so she and gave me a list of companies that I might be interested in. Fortunately, OAL came back to me and the rest is history!
I originally worked as an apprentice electrician while studying at Peterborough Regional College to achieve my Level 3 NVQ Diploma in installing electrotechnical systems and equipment. Having finished my apprenticeship in 2018, I was promoted to become a fully qualified electrician, with greater responsibilities.
My typical day…
Can vary a lot, from working inside a factory, bakery or construction site to getting on top of silos and installing electrical systems and equipment. It keeps it interesting!
My most memorable moment…
Is always witnessing our systems go from drawings on a computer screen to fully functioning systems producing the food we buy in the supermarket.
The worst part of my job is…
The temperatures: the general rule is we’ll be working in hot bakeries in the middle of summer and working outside in the middle of winter!
The best part of my job is…
Being able to travel around the country and abroad!
After work…
When we’re away on site, we all usually go out together in the evening to a restaurant and have dinner, go back to the hotel, relax and watch TV.
Like the sound of what Will gets up to? As the winner of the SME Apprentice Employer of the Year 2019 in Peterborough, we’re always looking for apprentices to join the team!
OAL marks four years of support for Kidsafe
Since 2015, OAL has supported the charity, Kidsafe, a nationwide organisation which works towards creating a world in which children are aware of the dangers they face whilst maintaining their sense of adventure.
Since 2015, OAL has supported the charity, Kidsafe, a nationwide organisation which works towards creating a world in which children are aware of the dangers they face whilst maintaining their sense of adventure. The charity aims to make learning fun, tackling important topics such as stranger danger, racism and bullying, and the green cross code in an entertaining format, including the games packs that OAL supports.
Kidsafe provides safety books, leaflets, posters, and games free of charge to almost every primary school in the country, and we’re delighted to be able to contribute to such a great cause. The safety packs that they offer are professionally designed to capture the imagination of children, helping them to learn these essential safety skills more effectively.
Kidsafe school safety pack
“OAL in Peterborough has helped Kidsafe distribute thousands of games packs to school children across Cambridgeshire over a number of years to great success, helping many under 12s lead safer lives and avoid a trip to A&E. Thanks to the support of Samantha Norman and her team, we are going to be able to provide games packs to many more children, including those with special needs in particular, and we hope to be able to report similar successes with these children in the future”
OAL is dedicated to supporting the next generation as part of our corporate social responsibility programme. From work experience placements to school visits, we’re actively involved in encouraging young people as they progress into the world of work and these educational packs are a great way for us to further develop children’s skills to give them the best start possible.
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OAL supports further education in the food industry
OAL sponsored the award for Best Overall Performance on an Apprenticeship at the University of Lincoln’s graduation prize-giving event for the academic year 18/19.
Wednesday 11th September 2019 saw The University of Lincoln’s National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM) graduation prize-giving event for the academic year 18/19. This year marked the first year a cohort of students received their full technical degree through an apprenticeship route.
Harry Norman, OAL, presenting Sheryl with her award for ‘Best Overall Performance on an Apprenticeship’.
For the second year running OAL sponsored the award for Best Overall Performance on an Apprenticeship. The award was won by Bakkavor’s Product Development Apprentice, Sheryl Gamble, and was presented by OAL Managing Director, Harry Norman.
Sheryl graduated this year having completed her Level 6 Food Industry Technical Professional degree apprenticeship. The judges selected her for the prize due to her confidence, her ability to learn and her role as a great employer ambassador. Whilst working with Bakkavor, Sheryl has made a significant impact on the NPD department and has played a key role in boosting the wider collaboration with departments and customers.
The NCFM leads the way in part-time study for food industry employees and we have a close relationship, where a number of our team are currently studying there. They’ve also been a partner in developing our latest innovations, including our robot chef and our state-of-the-art Steam Infusion test centre.
Sam Norman, OAL, speaking at the ceremony.
“It’s an exciting time to work in the food industry with the developments in robotics and automation. Apprenticeships are a hugely valuable way to attract and develop the people who are the future of the industry. The degree apprenticeship route is a great partnership between an employee with the motivation to learn, a business willing to provide opportunities and an excellent learning provider like the University of Lincoln”
At OAL, around 12% of our employees are currently studying across multiple disciplines, from engineering and food science to marketing and finance. Our continuous dedication to education and supporting our employees earned us the title of SME Apprentice Employer of the Year at the Peterborough Telegraph Apprenticeship Awards 2019 and we employee award-winning apprentices; personal and professional development is at the heart of the company.
If you want to become a part of our exciting journey as we shake up the food industry, take a look at our current vacancies! We’re always on the hunt for new talent to expand and grow our business.
Spotlight on a career as Assistant Management Accountant
Louise Gore is Assistant Management Accountant working within the Finance office. She lives in Huntingdon with her partner Neil and her son Owen.
Day in the life of…
Louise Gore
Louise Gore is Assistant Management Accountant working within the Finance office. She lives in Huntingdon with her partner Neil and her son Owen.
My alarm goes off…
At 6.30am and snoozed several times over! I then have a mad dash around the house to get ready and after several moans at my teenage son to get going, we’re both in the car and off by 8am.
I’m responsible for…
Many things finance related but over the past 6 months I have mainly been focusing on the looking after the company’s accounts to aid managerial planning and commercial decision-making, working closely with our Financial Controller.
I got the job…
Because I was in the right place, right time I believe. I had just been made redundant and saw the job advertised. I knew I was a good fit for the role, particularly with my existing qualifications so I was really pleased when I was offered the job!
My typical day…
Starts with going through any emails that have come through after I have left (I work part time). My work can change from day to day; I can be working with sales orders and chasing up timesheets to putting financial reports together for the management team to analyse departmental and overall performance.
My most memorable moment…
Can’t be pinned down to just one as I have had many in the finance office: contrary to popular belief finance is the place to be if you want to have good 'work-related' fun!
The worst part of my job is…
Filing…does anybody actually like it?!
The best part of my job is…
Working with such a knowledgeable team across the whole of OAL. Although I’m based in the finance office, I get to touch base with other departments throughout the week and see all the interesting things they are up to. It’s also great that we have so many training opportunities at OAL; I have started an apprenticeship to become ACCA qualified, which is really exciting!
After work…
If I’m not taxiing my son around to various places I like to relax with a good meal (generally made by Neil!) and maybe a glass of wine. The dog occasionally gets a walk too!