Profile

I live in on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors, I’m a keen mountain biker and runner.

I’m the person my friends and family always turn to when they need something making or repairing.

I love to cook and bake bread…also eat said food and bread, hence the hobbies to help burn it off.

I started work at the University 10 years ago.

What I do is design and make bespoke and custom made “things” for scientific research and teaching practicals.

A Scientist (professor to masters student) will come to me with a problem/idea of some type of experiment they want to carry out, I then have to come up with the solution.

I work for the Biology Department so this can range from tiny microscope parts, automatic doors for ants, small scale AD (anaerobic digestor) plants to robots that wiz along ropes for GHG (green house gas) sampling.

I get to use all manner of manufacturing processes to make these things, precision milling and lathe machines, laser cutters and 3D printing. To welding and wood work.

I have to drive 35 miles to work first.

Get to work for 7:45, make a coffee and get my overalls on.

Fire up the PC and warm up any machines I know I’m going to be using that day.

I have a very long to do list of current jobs, paper work for the workshop like health and safety, and ordering in parts and materials.

I have an apprentice in the workshop now so this takes a great deal of time as it’s 4 years of training, so I organise jobs for both of us.

I will answer any emails I have got in over night and then crack on with making things…

I run an open door service so anyone needing urgent work can speak to me right away, this is usually emergency break downs of lab equiptment.

I’ll have several machines running, people coming every hour needing help/advice, an apprentice to train and mentor. So my days are always busy.