Welcome to another instalment of our employee spotlight series. This month’s spotlight is on Tanya, our trainee welder. We asked Tanya a series of questions to get to know her better.
How long have you worked at D&M, and what brought you here?
I have worked for D&M for just over a year now, and I must say it has gone incredibly fast. After approximately 15 years working in an office environment involved in various roles, including procurement buyer, PA and sales account executive. The constant paper shuffling, being connected to people and answering emails just wasn’t cutting it for me anymore. It wasn’t that I hated the roles in the office; it just didn’t excite me anymore.
I was made redundant just over a year ago, and that’s when I started looking into doing something completely different. After searching for several jobs, I noticed welding vacancies kept popping up, I had a vague idea of what it entailed, but it wasn’t until I looked into it further that it really intrigued me, so I arranged to do a day’s welding course which I really enjoyed, and then I saw the vacancy here for a trainee welder and applied.
What does your job entail?
For me, as a trainee fabricator, currently my job entails a lot of learning and becoming familiar with all the tools, machinery. Fine tuning my attention to the detail of the finish required of the end product as well as improving my dexterity with all the tools and equipment. Some days are all welding, some are all sanding, and others are tapping or countersinking. As D&M carry out such a wide variety of projects, it is not the same routine from day to day. Pretty much everything I work with is sharp, hot and heavy. Forget about going home clean, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
What do you like most about your job?
I thoroughly enjoy the physicality and craftmanship of the role. Working with my hands and seeing the end products come to life through several processes you have been involved in is very satisfying to me.
As a complete beginner, there has certainly been a massive learning curve, and there have been times when I have asked myself “what the hell I am doing”; certainly, at my age, my confidence has taken a few knocks, and I do get frustrated when I don’t pick up things as quickly as I would like. All in all, when I look back and see my progress, it genuinely makes me happy as I take great pride in what I do.
What is working at D&M like?
Working at D&M is really interesting. They carry out a wide variety of different projects and offer a vast and innovative approach to fabrication. There is a great culture and team environment. I have always been made to feel welcome and included, and my co-workers have been extremely patient in teaching me, answering my endless questions and lending a hand when I get stuck. D&M care a lot about the health and safety, cleanliness of the work environment and the welfare of the staff. I have taken part in several health & safety courses whilst at D&M.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Hopefully, I will still be working at D&M and producing work to a high standard as a competent welder/fabricator. Given the opportunity, it would be great to pass down my knowledge as well.
What was your very first job?
I joined the RAF just before my 18th birthday and trained as a dental nurse.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I love to cuddle and walk my sausage dog. I love to draw animals, and I have done a few pet portraits for people. I also enjoy family games night, playing the piano, and wild swimming in the summer.
Can you tell us a fun fact about yourself?
Ok, so a fun fact about myself, though it wasn’t fun at the time, I was once apprehended and interviewed by airport security for having traces of explosive matter in my handbag. When I was going through security and I was taken to the side, and they swabbed my handbag with an explosive trace detector which kept on going off, so the next thing I knew, I was surrounded by security, asked several questions and then taken into a room to be interviewed.
Before the flight, I had a Nando salad with a sachet of dressing, which I didn’t use, so I kept this in my handbag for another time. It wasn’t until I had gone into the toilet that I noticed a strange smell coming from my handbag. I realised the sachet of salad dressing had exploded and gone everywhere. I mopped it up as best I could and then proceeded to security. I can only put it down to the exploded salad dressing setting off all the alarms. I haven’t had a Nando salad since. All said and done, they must have run a background check as they let me go and I was able to get on my flight.
What, if anything, are you currently binge-watching? Or reading?
I have just read Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owen, and I am waiting to watch the movie.
What’s one thing on your bucket list?
Oh my goodness, I have a continuously growing list. One that has been on there for quite some time is that I would love to go to the Bahamas to swim with the pigs.