Thomas Wyton

In my short time at K Two, I have quickly come accustom to the product being manufactured, of which are predominantly muck spreaders and silage trailers. I am part of a small team in the final production part of the business where the products are fitted out and PDI'd prior to customer collection.

Due to my mechanical background, I was also tasked with servicing, diagnosing faults and repairing a fleet of counter-balance forklifts as well as other powered machinery.

I was part of a team of 4 technicians covering the nationwide business that WFL was. Looking after a fleet of nearly 300 trucks, ensuring that all repairs and maintenance are carried out in a timely manner.

Regular duties include :

• Responsible for carrying out scheduled, routine and reactive maintenance on smaller 4x4 vehicles and larger lorries.
• Ensure work logs and and documents are recorded correctly to maintain accurate records.
• Order and maintain the correct van stock to ensure that downtime is kept to a minimum.
• Inspect, diagnose and repair any breakdowns to an ADR standard, ensuring that the vehicle is returned to work in a way that is time and cost effective.
• Work effectively, following all method statements and working to dynamic risk assessment's.

I originally took on a role with Staines Hire in a site operative for a tractor/HGV position, however this quickly developed into me being promoted internally to manage the Midlands depot. This was a hugely diverse role covering many parts of the business. As part of the team, it was often that I would have to jump in to different roles at extremely short notice to cover any sickness and absences, making sure that the customer's requirements are met. Areas of the business I became involved in included:

• Being responsible for 10 team members that worked across an area stretching from Birmingham down to Bristol, ensuring that all health and safety compliance was met and that they were fully aware of the responsibilities and individual roles they were undertaking for different customers
• Having to deal with customers first hand to ensure the any plant they received is of the correct specifications and that any issues are resolved quickly and professionally.
• Assisting the sole mobile technician, ensuring that he had the technical, stock and physical support that he required. During busier times of the year I would also find myself on site doing emergency repairs to back up the technicians role, this would be on a wide range of equipment, from tractors, trailers, arable ag machinery, all the way up to HGV's. Once back in the yard, I was also responsible for doing pre and post-delivery inspections.
• During busier times, I would take a leading mechanical role on the companies 350 arable acres, duties included emergency repairs, relief seed drilling, heavy cultivations and machinery movements

During my time with A W Pomeroy, I assisted across two farming units working in tandem with one another. My personal development grew massively in all aspects of animal welfare, farm upkeep and machinery maintenance involved in this job role. I completed a variety of different activities, including:

• Checking physical condition of livestock to detect illness, injury or disease.
• Kept farm buildings, structures and machinery clean and well-maintained.
• Hand-fed young animals to guarantee proper nutrition and consumption of medications.
• Controlled movements of livestock, herding animals to pastures for grazing.
• Facilitated livestock reproduction through breeding, artificial insemination and assisting animal births.
• Minimised milk losses by accurately detecting milk abnormalities and ensuring prompt treatment.
• Operated tractors, trailers and forklifts, to transport animals and feed between farm locations, as well as doing regular maintenance and repairs on said equipment.

I worked as parts of a team of 5, looking after approximately 250 cows with youngstock duties as well. Having finished agricultural college shortly before this job, I felt I have gained valuable early experience in the agricultural industry. Some examples of the typical work carried out at this job role:

• Assisting with the farm's upkeep by completing repairs to buildings, equipment and fencing.
• Cleaning of farm buildings and equipment to maintain exemplary animal health and wellbeing.
• Operating of agricultural machinery safely and responsibly.
• Handling daily animal care covering feeding, watering and healthcare.