Land Based Engineering Technician
Finn is a Maintenance Manager at Poundfield Precast
I help make large concrete parts that are used in things like farms, bridges and huge construction projects.
My job is to keep all the machines and equipment running, so we can keep producing concrete safely and on time. If something breaks, I fix it.
If I do my job properly, everyone else can do theirs – and that keeps everything moving.
I love getting dirty and fixing stuff. There’s nothing better than solving a problem and getting things working again.
If a machine breaks, people can’t do their jobs – so when I fix it, I’m helping everyone.
I especially enjoy fixing things that other people can’t!
There’s a real sense of achievement in taking something broken and turning it back into an asset for the business.
Problem solving is the biggest one. Every day is different, and I have to figure things out quickly. I also need to be determined – sometimes you just have to keep going until it’s fixed.
Thinking on my feet is important because situations change fast. I also need to understand safety, as I work with electricity, hydraulics and heavy machinery.
I also need to be decisive, for instance, I sometimes need to decide whether to stop production (which costs the business money) or try and find another solution. I need to balance cost, time and risk.
I work closely with my assistant, and we either team up on big jobs or split off depending on what needs doing. We’ve got different skills, so we can cover more ground.
I am part of the operations team. We all work together to keep the site running. When everything is working well, it’s because we’ve all done our part.
My favourite bit of kit is my van – it’s like the A-Team van! It’s fully kitted out with welding equipment, a compressor, tools, oils, lifting gear and even equipment to make hydraulic pipes.
It means I can go anywhere on site and fix almost anything, without needing to go back to the workshop. Being completely self-sufficient like that is brilliant.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time in the countryside with my partner and our dogs - we’ve got a Labrador and a spaniel.
I’ve also got a workshop at home – I eat, sleep and breathe engineering, so I’m always building or fixing something.
At school, I struggled because it didn’t suit how I learn. I preferred practical things and working with my hands.
Outside of school, I was always taking things apart, building go-karts and helping my dad at work. That hands-on experience taught me a lot early on.
For me, it’s about keeping the plant running. Since I’ve been here, we’ve reduced downtime and improved production and it feels good to be a part of that.
Knowing that everything is running smoothly because of the work I’ve done makes me proud.
At work, I’m basically like the fourth emergency service. If anything goes wrong – machines, systems, even cables underground – I get called.
Also, concrete isn’t just sand, water and cement. We use special additives to change how it behaves, like making it set faster or reducing air bubbles.
I want to keep improving the site, reduce downtime even more and keep building my team and skills. There’s always something new to learn in engineering.
Listen to experienced people – they’ve got years of knowledge you can learn from. Ask questions and take an interest.
Most importantly, find something you enjoy and stick with it. If you don’t enjoy it, don’t waste your time – try something else until you find what fits.
And always wear your ear defenders – trust me on that as I didn't when I was younger and my hearing has suffered!
