Elliot is a Project Engineer at our site in Long Sutton in Lincolnshire which is home to our Canning Excellence Programme and our largest production site in the UK. Elliot says:
I started working for Princes in December 2019 and was introduced to our Project Engineering framework.
My initial projects were between £10k-£100k and enabled me to develop relationships with a wide range of individuals in the business. The projects varied from chemical process equipment to modifying factory personnel routes. This quickly progressed as I proved my ability to deliver and manage larger pieces of work.
One of the most memorable projects I’ve worked on was the installation of a new hydrostatic cooker/sterilizer at Long Sutton, the second phase of Princes’ £80m investment in the site. This involved the assembly of the largest mobile crane in the UK, and it took meticulous planning ahead of the successful two days of lifting and assembly of the new cooker.
Needless to say, this was an exciting and surreal engineering opportunity that without Princes would not have been on my horizon. After installation I worked on its commissioning before moving onto other large installation projects.
In February 2022 Princes offered me the opportunity to pursue the APM Association for Project Management professional qualification. This is an 18-month qualification and would have come at considerable expense to the company. Princes offered the flexibility for me to study for this qualification during my working week allowing me the time I needed to achieve it. I was delighted to pass first time.
With this qualification, and the tools it has given me, I have continued to progress in engineering project management. I recently had the opportunity to design a new Product Transport system for peas from initiation to completion.
For this project I was able to use my own creativity and problem-solving skills to overcome several challenges. I managed the budget and timeline and ensured the successful delivery of the finished solution.
On a more personal note, my son was born in in May 2023 and Princes could not have been more accommodating in allowing me time to embrace that special moment as much as possible.
Engineering at Princes is a dynamic and exciting place where every day gives me new opportunities to push myself and to learn new skills. The size of the business means there is always somebody more experienced that can advise you if you need it or support you on a difficult task.