Spark Tees Valley

In Summary:

Meet Danny! He works as a contracts engineer, which means he helps organise how things are built and sold.

Here is what his day looks like:

• Morning Routine: The first thing Danny does is make himself a cup of coffee. Then, he gets on the telephone to chat with customers to see how they are doing and what new jobs they have planned for the future.

• Checking the Factory: Danny doesn’t just sit in a chair all day. He walks down to the shop floor- that’s the factory area where things are made- to check on his projects and see how they are getting on.

• Planning and Drawings: He spends time looking at drawings of the parts they need to make and works with his team to figure out when the work needs to be done and how long it will take. He also works out the prices for new jobs, which is called “quoting”.

How did Danny get this job?

Danny has always loved engineering because he likes being “hands-on” and making things. When he was at secondary school, he loved using a machine called a lathe.

Because he enjoyed it so much, he went to college to learn more about engineering. After his first year, he started a 4-year apprenticeship. An apprenticeship is brilliant because you get to work and learn at the same time! While he was doing this, he studied for special qualifications called an HNC and HND.

At first, he worked “on the tools” (using the machines himself) for a few months, operating a big machine called a vertical borer. Later, he moved into sales and finally became a contracts engineer.

What is the best part?

Danny loves that he gets to be out and about. His favourite thing is learning exactly what a component (a part of a machine) is used for. He thinks it is brilliant to visit customers at their own sites to see the different types of engineering in action.

Spark Tees Valley

In Summary:

Meet Luke! He has a really exciting job as a CNC machinist at a company called Tees Components.

Luke says that if you like maths or enjoy building with Lego bricks, you would probably love his job because it is all about making things. He takes a piece of metal and follows a drawing to turn it into a finished item.

Here is how he does his work:

• He uses computer code: Luke writes special programs (using languages with names like Siemens or Fanuc) to tell the machines exactly what to do.

• He uses cool tools: He sets up the machine to do jobs like drilling, milling, and turning.

• He measures everything: He uses special equipment to check that the metal piece is the perfect size.

Luke gets to make parts for huge projects, like ships and equipment for defense. He started his career by going to Middlesbrough College and doing an apprenticeship, which allowed him to learn new skills while working as part of a team.

Spark Tees Valley

In Summary:

Tom has a job called a commercial management accountant. That might sound like a big, fancy title, but it basically means he looks after the money records for businesses.

What does Tom do? Every month, Tom prepares reports called a “set of accounts”. He gives these reports to the big bosses (called the board of directors) so they can check the numbers to see where the company can save money and make more money.

What is the tricky part? Tom says the hardest thing is managing his time. He has to work quickly to finish his reports by a certain time (a deadline) because other people in his team are waiting for them. He also has to make sure that the people who sell things to the company (the suppliers) get paid on time.

Why does he like it? Tom has always been very interested in numbers. After he left school, he went to college and university to study accounting and maths because he enjoys analysing numbers.

His favourite part of the job is the feeling he gets when he finishes a report. He likes showing the bosses the final number at the bottom of the page that tells them the business is doing well. It makes him feel happy to know he has done his job right.

Spark Tees Valley

In Summary:

Ellie has a very creative job called a graphic designer. This means she works on a computer to create all sorts of pictures and designs.

Here is what she does:

• She Designs Cool Things: Ellie creates logos (like the pictures you see for shops or games), chooses colour palettes (groups of colours that look nice together), and designs posters and websites.

• She Solves Puzzles: Ellie says you need patience for her job. She has to do research to find the best information to make her projects work well.

• Every Day is an Adventure: One day she might just be fixing some colours, and the next day she might be building a whole website from start to finish!.

Why does she love it?

Ellie comes from a very artistic family- she actually has three other graphic designers in her family!. The best part of her job is that no two days are the same. It keeps things exciting because she gets to learn something new every single day.

Spark Tees Valley

In Summary:

Lisa’s job is to make places look really pretty inside. She works on all different kinds of buildings, like houses, offices, shops, and holiday lets (houses people rent for their holidays).

What Does She Do All Day? Lisa says the best thing about her job is that no day is the same. Her work changes a lot:

• Out and About: Sometimes she leaves the office to visit the buildings she is fixing up or to meet with the people she is helping (her clients).

• In the Office: Other times, she stays in the office to work on designs using a computer or to find furniture and products to put in the rooms.

What Skills Does She Use? To be a designer like Lisa, you need a few special skills:

• Creativity: Lisa relies on feeling creative to make things look nice. She comes from a creative family- her mum is creative and her brother used to be a graphic designer.

• Computer Skills: She uses skills she learned at college and university to help her design things on a screen.

• Teamwork: She needs good “communication skills,” which means she has to be good at talking to people and working with her team of designers.

Lisa studied textile design at college and interior design at university because she always knew she wanted a job where she could be creative. She loves that her work is always different and that she gets to work with a great team.

Spark Tees Valley

In Summary:

Meet Sandy: The Person Who Helps People Find Jobs

What is Sandy’s job? Sandy is an “HR recruitment administrator.” This is a big title, but it simply means she is part of a “people team” that helps the company find new workers. She also looks after the people who already work there to make sure they are happy and doing well.

What does she do all day? Sandy spends a lot of time sitting at her desk with a phone “stuck to her ear” because she is constantly talking to people! Her main tasks include:

• Talking to new people: When someone applies for a job, Sandy speaks to them on the phone to get to know them.

• Setting up meetings: She organises interviews so managers can meet the people who want jobs.

• Helping people start: When a person gets the job, Sandy writes up their contracts (the important paperwork for the job) and helps them settle in.

What skills do you need for this job? To do Sandy’s job, you have to be very good at listening and talking to others. Sandy says the most important skills are:

• People Skills: You need to enjoy working with others.

• Empathy: This means being able to understand how other people are feeling.

• Being Helpful: Sandy is there to help her colleagues if they have any problems, whether it is a small issue like logging into a computer, or something more serious.

How did she learn to do this? Sandy went to university to study Psychology, which is all about understanding how people think and behave. She has always wanted to work with people and used to work in “hospitality,” looking after guests.

Sandy loves her job because she thinks working with people is “fantastic”. Her motto is that “it’s nice to be nice,” and she loves being there to help people when they need it.

Spark Tees Valley

In Summary:

Sarah is a trainee solicitor. A solicitor is a type of lawyer. Sarah’s special job is to help people buy and sell their houses.

What does she do all day? Sarah spends a lot of time at her desk dealing with paperwork and speaking to different people, like the people buying the house and estate agents.

She says her job is actually a bit like being a detective! Every house sale is different, so she has to investigate things carefully to make sure everything follows the law.

What skills do you need? To do Sarah’s job, you need to be good with people.

• Be Kind: Moving house is one of the most stressful things a person can do, so Sarah has to be very understanding and helpful.

• Be Chatty: Sarah loves her job because she is a talkative, friendly person and gets to speak to people all day.

• Ask for Help: Sarah works on her own a lot, but she says you must know when to ask for help. She believes that “no question is a stupid question”.

Changing Jobs is Okay! Did you know Sarah wasn’t always a solicitor? She used to be a teacher for 15 years!. She loved teaching, but eventually, she felt a bit bored and realised she needed a change.

Sarah says it is important to know that you don’t have to have the same career for your whole life. It is okay to try something new.

How do you become a Solicitor? Because Sarah already had a degree (from university) and had been a teacher, she was able to retrain quickly.

• She studies for her exams (called the SQE) in the evenings and weekends.

• She works in a law firm to learn the job at the same time.

• After 2 years of working and passing her exams, she will be a fully qualified solicitor.

Spark Tees Valley

In Summary:

Callum works for a company called Woodsmith Construction. He is a Project Manager, which means he is in charge of building houses and making sure everything goes to plan.

Here is what his job is like:

What does he do all day? Callum says his days are always different and exciting!

• He visits the building site to meet the builders and check how the work is going.

• He speaks to the customers (the people whose house is being built) to make sure they are happy.

• He orders the materials, like bricks and wood, so the builders have what they need.

• He looks after the money and works out the price of new building projects.

What makes you good at this job? If you want to do Callum’s job when you grow up, you need two main skills:

1. Being Organised: This is the most important skill! You need to make sure everything happens at the right time.

2. Great Communication: You need to be good at talking to your team clearly so everyone is “on the same page” and knows exactly what to do.

How did he get this job? Callum went to university to learn how to count the cost of buildings (called a quantity surveyor). He chose this because he always loved maths and houses.

Callum loves his job because it is very rewarding. He says the best feeling is seeing a project change from the very start (“day dot”) all the way to a finished building.

Spark Tees Valley

In Summary:

Have you ever wondered who makes sure a building gets built properly? Meet Carl. He is a Site Manager for a company called Woodsmith Construction.

What Does a Site Manager Do?

Being a Site Manager means you are in charge of the construction site. Carl says his days are very different and change a lot.

• Office Work: Sometimes he is inside an office answering emails and questions from customers or the workers.

• Site Work: Other times, he is outside wearing his safety gear! He works with engineers and the building team (who he calls “the lads”) to make sure the building work is happening on time and going well.

What Skills Do You Need?

If you want to do this job, Carl says communication is the most important skill. This means you need to be really good at talking to people and listening to them. You also need a lot of knowledge to understand exactly how the job needs to be done.

Carl started working in construction straight after he finished school. He worked for different companies doing “groundworks” (preparing the ground for building) and civil engineering.

Because he learned how the work should be done properly, he “stepped up” into a management role to help plan the jobs and lead the team.

Carl says the best thing about his job is being part of a team. He loves it when everyone comes together to finish a big project and reach their goal.

Spark Tees Valley

In Summary:

Hannah has a job with a big title: she is a Customer Experience Executive. This means she does a little bit of everything to help people.

Hannah spends a lot of time answering phone calls and emails. She talks to two main groups of people:

1. Guests: These are the people going on holiday. They ask Hannah questions to see if a holiday house is perfect for what they need.

2. Owners: These are the people who own the holiday houses. Hannah acts as their “eyes and ears” to make sure their house is the best it can be for the visitors.

Hannah says the most important skill is confidence. Because she speaks on the phone a lot, she can’t see the person she is talking to, so she has to be brave and confident to give the best advice. She also says it is very important to just be nice because her main job is to help people.

How Did She Get the Job? Before this job, Hannah was interested in acting, directing films, and writing, which is very different from what she does now!. She got this job because she used to work nearby, saw the company logo, and thought, “I can give it a go”.

Hannah loves her job because her team feels like a family. There are lots of different people working there- some fix things (maintenance), some do advertising (marketing), and some look after the money (revenue). Hannah says they all have to trust each other and work together to make sure the customers have a great time.

Spark Tees Valley

In Summary:

Meet Ewan! He has a job called a Guest Service Advisor. This means he helps people when they book a place to stay for a visit or a holiday.

Here is what Ewan does and how he got his job:

• He helps people on the phone: Ewan spends most of his day wearing a headset and sitting in front of his laptop. He answers questions from guests and helps them if they have any problems during their stay.

• He solves problems fast: Sometimes things might be broken or need cleaning. Ewan uses time management skills to figure out which problems are the most urgent so he can fix them quickly and make sure the guests have the best time possible.

• He has to be polite: The most important skill for his job is communication. He has to speak clearly and be very polite and formal when he helps guests.

How did Ewan get this job? When Ewan was 14, he thought he wanted to be a journalist (someone who writes news). He went to university to study it, but after a few months, he realised it wasn’t the right fit for him because he just wanted to start working and helping people.

He started as an apprentice (which means he was learning while he worked) and now, at 20 years old, he has a full-time job because he is a good talker.

Ewan loves the team he works with. He says everyone in the office is really close and lovely, including the people who do the marketing, the cleaning, and the fixing.