We recently sat down with Matthew Turner, our Workshop Team Leader, to learn more about him and his journey at S and A Engineering.
Q: Hi Matty, thanks for talking to us today, please could you tell us a little bit about your background and what led you to join S and A Engineering?
A: Prior to S and A Engineering I had been working as an apprentice at a glass manufacturing company obtaining my level 2 in performing Manufacturing operations, alongside my work as an outdoor instructor teaching others to kayak, climb and other outdoor/adventure activities. I had also at this point studied my Level 3 BTEC in Mechanical Engineering and completed it to a respectable standard. This is something I revisited gaining my Extended Diploma Level 3 during my time at S and A.
Further to this, my dad was also a lifelong maintenance engineer, who started his own company and gave me an insight into the industry and had conversations about breakdown situations which occurred as an occurrence and being part of an engineering maintenance team.
Q: What does a typical day look like for you as the Workshop Team Leader at S and A Engineering?
A: Busy, from assisting customers with breakdown situation via telephone conversation and call-out site visits, to processing internal projects within the workshop I get all the joys of running a reactive workshop. Fitting and blower repairs was my bread and butter but now I/we are tasked with different machining tasks and all other applications to assist customers and bring in subcontract work “in-house” to achieve a completely multi-functional workshop.
Q: How has your role as Workshop Team Leader evolved since you started the position? What is your favourite part of your role?
A3: I started at S and A engineering as a workshop assistant being part of a team of 7 within the company, as time went by we lost staff members, and I was pushed through the ranks gaining all of the experience along the way coinciding with the completion of my apprenticeship. Now from the low numbers of 4 during Covid we are back up to a health 7-member team that is looking to push the company further in the right direction.
My favourite part of the role I currently do is seeing my team progress in the elements where I had previously struggled, giving them time and knowledge to be able to cope with any situation thrown their way (Hopefully). Seeing the development within staff members and seeing their understanding grown does give satisfaction.
Q: Is there a particular project you're especially proud of? What made it stand out from the others for you?
A: I’d say being able to be proactive with the machines we have in our workshop and fitting allotted times for individuals to practice and become competent in a variety of skills. Being able to have an idea of how to perform the operations on my own and seeing others take it onboard and progress an idea into a working part of our business does genuinely make me proud.
Q: The process of blower repair and refurbishment involves both technical knowledge and problem-solving. What challenges do you enjoy tackling the most?
A: Going out on-site or even having a customer on the phone with what they see as a huge problem and being able to assure them that they are in capable hands, have come to the right place and that we will help them get back up and running in no time, gives a feeling of accomplishment in all of the years of practice, blood, sweat and tears into something that genuinely works. That’s a pretty good feeling.
Q: And finally, as S and A is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, what does it mean to you to be part of such a well-established company? Where do you see S and A Engineering in the next 5 years? What do you think has contributed to their success and longevity?
A: I honestly just give thanks to Andrew for giving us all the opportunity, he took the original risk and am thankful that he has not only benefited, but his family and every other stakeholder of this company has benefitted from this business along the way. It’s starting to look like we are producing a rolling apprenticeship scheme, something Andrew was passionate about, giving the opportunity for others and the industry to progress. So, in the next 5 years hopefully we will have brought another couple of apprentices into the world of engineering industry keeping larger companies up and running whilst functioning as the strong small companies do.
As mentioned by bringing in new people and constant development within the company keeps us fresh and constantly absorbing knowledge to put into action within our team. From our technical sales, to our workshop basic functionality the communication is key and to have a team that works for each other I believe will keep us striving to success within our industry.
For 30 years, S and A Engineering have specialised in blower repair and supply, with extensive experience in the sale, maintenance and repair of roots-type positive displacement air blowers.
From our base in Bolton, conveniently located centrally within the UK, we are able to carry out both in-house repairs and onsite maintenance of numerous brands of air blowers. Our blower repair and refurbishment services offer a cost effective and more environmentally friendly alternative to purchasing a new machine. Additionally S and A Engineering also carry a range of spares parts for blowers.
Do you have a question about our blower maintenance and repair services? Get in touch today.
