What inspired you to work in the Food Testing industry?
Back in sixth form, I was looking generally towards science without being sure of exactly which field I wanted to go into. I found out about the Food Science course at the University of Reading and liked that it was more niche yet still a very important industry. The course covered both chemistry and microbiology, and involved one year out in industry, which I spent at Eurofins Food Testing Grimsby, working in the chemistry department on a new chromatography machine and developing new methods.
What was the structure of your graduate programme at Eurofins?
After my placement with Eurofins in Grimsby, I was contacted by the microbiology team at Eurofins in Wolverhampton, and was invited to apply for their tailor-made graduate course. The goal was to get me into each of the different departments to see how everything works. Ultimately, this rotation gave me a full picture of how each department impacts others.
Tell us about your current role.
I’m now a Pathogens Laboratory Team Leader for the Wolverhampton Food & Feed Testing lab – there are two of us, working on alternate shifts, leading a team of 11. It’s my job to assure that all the prepped samples, with varying incubation times, have been processed and the results are through, which requires knowing what to prioritise. I have to check for any delays or retesting needs and communicate these to the client. I keep the team updated on any changes in the lab and supervise general lab productivity, and also devote some of my time to Quality Assurance and getting involved with recruitment for new team members.
What does a typical day look like as a Pathogens Laboratory Team Leader?
I start by working out how much volume I have for the coming day, which I’ll need to calculate productivity at the end of the day. I’ll go through any issues and communicate with clients and answer any queries, resolving these with the team, who I meet with daily. Then my day is largely about supervising and helping out. We have quite a big lab, and I like to physically check how things are goings. Our live dashboard of samples shows which area might be struggling, but my team members will also come to me for assistance. Once the tests are done, the results need validating and checking for anomalies before being sent to the clients. I prepare a report with the confirmation numbers and any issues for higher management.
What kind of samples do you receive?
Samples can be anything from platters, desserts and ready meals to individual ingredients, such as flavourings, and sometimes pet foods or cattle feed.
How would you describe the Eurofins work environment?
Everyone is hard working, friendly, and welcoming. We always look for a good attitude in the recruitment process: someone ready to improve and willing to go the extra mile. I also like our ‘cycle to work’ initiative and charity sport events.
What surprised you about Eurofins?
I was surprised at first by how big the lab was, and how big Eurofins is in general! The Group tests so many different things, and the different specialities within one area, such as chemistry, mean there are many small but exciting departments.
What are your goals for the future?
I want to keep progressing and gain more management skills, possibly branching out into Quality Assurance, as I already have some auditing experience. But there are lots of options, which is one of the best things about Eurofins!