1: Can you tell us about your journey into mechanical engineering and how you came to work for Bilfinger?

I started working in the nuclear sector when I was 19 years old at Winfrith Nuclear Power Plant. I quickly realised that I was interested in the lifting side of operations and I asked to work alongside the Riggers which I was able to do. I joined Bilfinger UK in 2010 as a Rigger on the Wytch Farm site after transferring over from another contractor, and I have since worked my way up from the Tools department to Senior Mechanical Supervisor after over almost 20 years of service on-site.  

2: What does a typical day look like for you as a Senior Mechanical Supervisor?

A typical day starts at 6:30am when I arrive at work and I start by getting all of the permits together that are required for tasks to be completed on that day. These can be quite varied as I have Pipefitters, Welders, Riggers and Platters all working under my supervision. After this, I attend the morning briefing with the Site Lead, and distribute the work scopes to the on-site team, providing them with permits, gas monitors, keys, drawings and anything else they require to complete the task. I will then go to the work fronts with the team running through what is to be completed and what is covered on the permit they are working on. Due the logistics of the site, this can be quite challenging and time consuming.

Once I feel confident the team understand the work scopes I concentrate on any upcoming work for the next day or coming days, i.e. inputting new permits, having the conversations with the team, and liaising with the client’s Construction and Mechanical Leads. At the end of the day, I meet up with the Area Authority team so they can update me of what went well or what they may need me to help them with the next day. I then take any equipment back to the area authority office and sign off all the permits. The Site Lead then delivers a debrief meeting at around 4pm, providing the Supervisor and Senior Leads with the opportunity to report any issues.

3: What are the most critical skills needed in your role?

There are many skills needed in my role; a good understanding of the permit system is vital, as well as being able to speak to the team and communicate information in a way that they all understand. You must be a confident decision maker and always try to lead by example by going the extra mile where possible. 

4: What is one project or challenge you’re particularly proud of?

Over the 20 years of being at the Wytch Farm site there are many projects I’m proud of including the F-site separator shutdown and 5^th pump installation back in 2017. I was new to the role at the time, and we had temporary labour join us from Fawley to assist with operations. It was a highly stressful work environment with many challenging moments as the shutdown was time critical but as a team, we were able to deliver it on time, and the client was very happy with the outcome. 

5: What advice would you give to someone aspiring to become a Mechanical Supervisor in the energy sector?

I think if you want to become a Supervisor in this industry you have to be prepared to work hard be prepared to go the extra mile. Always try to be positive and have a good repour with the people you work with, both at Bilfinger and for the client. Also take advice from your peers they have probably been there and done it before, so their opinions and ideas can be invaluable. 

Does Ryan's story sound like the career path for you?

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