Lawrence Wretham has recently joined WES as a Proposals Engineer. Lawrence will be assisting Les Bunce in the Hire division. We asked Lawrence a few questions to find out more about him!
Can you talk to us about your role?
My role is to assist customers with their requirements for hired dosing systems. I will visit site, measure up and try to find the best solution for their dosing needs. I will send a comprehensive, itemised proposal and will recommend a full solution built around the customer’s choice of chemical.
What has it been like working for WES so far?
Genuinely interesting. I’m really impressed that we have such a wealth of knowledge here and so many time-served experienced people. Our ability to manufacture is also remarkable as it combines several disciplines and processes so well. I’m constantly learning.
Tell us about your career path?
I come from a construction industry background and have been in equipment hire for a long time. I was a branch manager for a major equipment hire company for several years. When I was at school, my first Saturday job was with compressors and air tools. I did a brief stint as an estate agent in the early 1990’s, but I’m OK now.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I have quite a few hobbies! I am a keen cyclist and am always restoring at least one old bike.
I ride a unicycle (I used to commute on it) I am learning to weld. I fix old computers and laptops. I love to visit historic places and have been to almost all the English Heritage castles in Southern England. I listen to lots of music from classical to rock, metal, rap and world music and love live music events.
Sam Anderson, an engineering undergraduate, will be working with WES over the next 13 months as a part of a placement year for his university course. Placement years are a great option for students to develop skills and gain valuable experience before graduating and entering the working world.
What course are you studying?
M.Eng Chemical Engineering at The University of Birmingham
How have you been finding the first few weeks at WES?
The first few weeks have been excellent, it’s been great getting hands on with setting up and commissioning pumping systems; and seeing the design process I have studied being used in industry. It’s been a steep learning curve – but I can’t wait to continue integrating with WES and ultimately be managing projects of my own!
Why did you choose to do a placement year?
I always wanted to include a year in industry as part of my degree, the exposure to the working world in advance of obtaining my degree will be invaluable in applying for grad jobs. Also, I am looking forward to developing skills that can’t be obtained in lecture theatres and tutorials; building working relationships with qualified engineers and managers and absorbing the advice they have to offer.
From two weeks working with WES, I am already seeing the benefits of working for a small, rapidly growing engineering firm. The closeness of the business allows me to gain experience in multiple departments, from commissioning and building dosing rigs in the workshop and on site, to managing projects and designing systems in the CAPEX business office.
How will the placement year impact your final year of university?
By spending a year with WES, connecting the dots between engineering concepts and engineering practice, I expect I will be able to understand final year content quicker and with more depth. For example, I am already better at visualising a built system from a paper P&ID, something which took longer during my third-year design project.