I have always had an interest in how things are work and how they are made. This interest naturally led me to engineering. I decided to do chemical engineering as it felt like a natural fit for me as I enjoy the chemistry throughout school.
I chose to study at Newcastle University as I love the city of Newcastle, the course provided suited me and I had an interest in the research work they were undertaking in Process Intensification, a key concept in making the chemical industry more efficient in order to minimise its impact.
During my time at university I spent significant periods of time within labs, although this time played a role in the development of my analytical skills, this period also highlighted to me that I wanted a role with a greater breadth and greater intensity. After graduating, I had a desire to work within a process role in FMCG, where I could implement the knowledge I had developed during my course in a challenging environment.
I first heard about my current role at Briggs during an IChemE Job Fair. Admittedly, this was the first time I had heard of Briggs. However, I dug deeper into the company’s long and proud history within the Brewing and Distilling industries. Briggs are a big player within these industries, working with market leaders such as AB InBev and Diageo, and have experienced huge growth in recent years.
This opportunity seemed too good to miss. Being a chemical engineer, Briggs’ involvement in the IChemE Accredited Training Scheme, allowing you to achieve chartership in a structured manner, was another key influence.
My role is as a Graduate Process Engineer within the Technical Sales Department. Within this role I work on developing the process elements behind the proposals we tender. As well as working with sales, I also work on Front End Engineering Design studies- working with clients to overcome technical issues and design their desired process, before the start of the project.
Within this role, I have been exposed to a number of projects within the Brewing and Distilling Industry, throughout the process. This exposure has given me valuable insight into the process engineering and has allowed me to constantly apply the knowledge I gained at university. Several opportunities to travel on site have also been presented, which has allowed for greater insight into the implementation of the designs produced within the office, as well being able to see different parts of the world!
Since joining Briggs, I have constantly been learning. The responsibility placed on you from an early stage pushes you to always be developing. Proper support has been provided to me from within my team, ensuring that I am able to help input to the best of my abilities. Additionally, Briggs provide internal training sessions and Engineering Bulletins, which provide as good learning opportunities to continue to learn about other areas within the company.
I couldn’t recommend it highly enough; I have found the work interesting and the team welcoming. The company has provided great opportunities to develop, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me in the years to come.