Operational and scientific roles

“It wasn’t just the role of Life Science Manager that attracted me to Anglian Water. It was also the good pension, the better work-life balance, and the great reputation of the business.

I decided to move to my current role because it’s more strategic and I like seeing the bigger picture – how the laboratory fits into the wider business. I deliver strategic-level initiatives that link wider business needs throughout the lab, both operationally and culturally.

“My proudest moment was getting my Chartership status with the Institute of Water.”

We all have registration with a professional body here in the labs, and we take pride in our continued professional development. Anglian Water has also helped me to further my knowledge with a Diploma in Leadership and Management.

This is a forward-thinking company that’s not afraid of change, but it also has a down-to-earth culture. It engages with customers and employees alike on their thoughts and opinions. It’s like a large family with a very customer-orientated approach.”

“One of the main attractions of Anglian Water for me was the benefits. Especially the pension and healthcare – there’s also the job security.

My role in Anglian Water has always involved pressure water jetting. It’s what we use to clear the majority of blockages caused by things like fats and non-dissolvable wipes. I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of resolving issues that can cause problems for properties and people.

The flooding back in 2005 in Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft was very traumatic for everyone affected. Anglian Water pulled in resources from all areas to help people who were unfortunately flooded. It was challenging for us all, but I was working with some wonderful colleagues.

“I’ve been involved in everything from rescuing distressed animals through to using my first aid training in road traffic accidents.”

Most of our work is preventative maintenance but we’re always on hand to respond to emergency work when needed. Our job is to keep the sewers running free which prevents flooding and pollutions, protecting the environment, wildlife and the property of our customers.

I have many happy memories – hopefully with many more to come.”

“I came across Anglian Water when I was employed as a contractor working on the leakage contract. I saw first-hand how much training and investment they give to each employee. I also liked the idea of working on more advanced equipment and being part of the Intensive Leakage team.

Every day is different here. Some days I work by myself, and sometimes we go out as a small team to find hidden and hard-to-find leaks.

“We’re like a big extended family. Everyone looks out for one another – we’re focused on safety, wellbeing and work-life balance.”

As for the training, in a word, it’s excellent. We have multiple training sites across our region and I’m impressed by the amount of investment. We have a fantastic training rig of a water main set up that’s linked to a computer so you can see how opening and closing valves can cause damage to our water network.

We have training centres in colleges and, on several sites, we’ve made and buried a complete set-up of water main pipes for training.

Every day is challenging, but the satisfaction I get far outweighs the efforts it took to get there.”