Maggie – Grounds Supervisor, Waltham Forest

What do you do?

"I started working for the Council as a volunteer in sports development for adults with disabilities. Over time I progressed to Sports Facilities and then a Parks Attendant role. When I joined Urbaser Ltd I was a Parks Supervisor and following a period of training and shadowing, I was promoted to Grounds Maintenance Supervisor. I am now responsible for 18 gardeners and 8 mobile operatives."

Why do you like your job?

"Horticulture is where my heart is. I enjoy working with living things so the pressure is always on, particularly in summer season managing grass cutting and bedding displays all in a matter of weeks."

What is the biggest challenge of your job?

"The biggest challenge is the weather, for example weed spraying which is a precise job that can’t be done in windy or rainy conditions. Flexibility in the schedule is the key and managing the expectations of the client."

Why do you like working for Urbaser Ltd?

"Working for Urbaser Ltd feels like a family business, it’s a close-knit team and we’ll always jump in to help each other out. The management team is really supportive of what we do."

Hayley – Park Keeper, Waltham Forest

What do you do?

"I was previously an agency worker and became an Urbaser Ltd employee when they started the contract. I am now a Park Keeper for Leyton Jubilee Park and my role involves checking sports equipment, weeding, grass cutting, planting and maintain bedding displays."

Why do you like your job?

"I like being outdoors and seeing everything change throughout the year. It is a nice company with supervisors that provide support and we work together as a team."

How has Urbaser Ltd helped you in your job?

"Urbaser Ltd has supported me with my training, putting me on an external Level 2 Horticulture course as well as internal training."

What are your future ambitions?

"I would like to be a Head Gardener, managing others. I love the parks and I hope Urbaser Ltd will help me achieve this."

Ian – Driver, Burnley

What do you do?

"I work here as a HGV driver/loader. I work in the spare pool of staff covering all types of duties in the contract from driving a 26 tonne recycling vehicle to loading street cleansing waste from the back streets onto a small cage tipper."

Why do you like your job?

"The satisfaction of seeing a job through from start to finish and also the great set of lads here, they made me feel so welcome and put me at ease from the first day I started."

What is the biggest challenge of your job?

"The physicality of the job although it can be tough is also a good thing for me."

Why do you like working for Urbaser Ltd?

"The flexibility Urbaser Ltd provides – it’s a different and new challenge every day, from driving to loading, each day is different."

Edgaras – Production Supervisor, Basildon

What do you do?

"It starts with my team; how can I help them, what difficulties are they having and trying to help them solve problems. Then I focus on production progress. I know I have had a good day when the plant is running smoothly and the team have achieved their targets."

Why do you like your job?

"I like my role because it provides me with plenty of challenges which I enjoy solving. I also like to see people in my department with happy faces."

How has Urbaser Ltd helped you?

"I have been recognised as having potential. I started with the company as a machine operator and have progressed to my current job where I manage 20 people. I have received plenty of training and guidance from my managers."

What are your future ambitions?

"I want to continue to progress. As opportunities arise, I hope I can take advantage of them."

Silvia – Laboratory Technician, Basildon

What do you do?

"I am the Laboratory technician on site and I carry out all the analytical testing of the plant."

Why do you like your job?

"It is very interesting to see the trends and changes of the biological treatment part of site and making your own conclusions/theories of what is going on and how it can be improved."

How has Urbaser Ltd helped you in your job?

"Urbaser Ltd gave me the opportunity to set up and commission a laboratory and they believed in me to do so. They gave me the opportunity to make my own decisions and feel confidence in my actions."

What are your future ambitions?

"After these 2 and a half years I have realised that I can do more than I expected of myself. I would like to have new challenges in the future. I am also keen to move into a management role."

Rudi

What do you do?

"I’m a street cleansing operative. My work is carried out on a 6 weekly schedule and my responsibilities are to keep footpaths, kerbs, traffic islands and shopfronts clear of weeds and litter, as well as clearing up after road traffic accidents & oil spills."

What do you like about your job?

"The job gives me the freedom to enjoy my love for the outdoors and being constantly active helps to keep me fit. It is nice being told by the public that you have done a good job, and I like having the responsibility which allows me to manage my work schedule."

What’s the biggest challenge of your job?

"An estimated 7.6 million tourism day trips are made to Windsor & Maidenhead each year, so we are very kept busy. In 2018 we had two Royal Weddings & Royal Ascot to deal with which was a huge challenge for our team to keep the Royal Borough clean. "

Why do you like working for Urbaser?

"I like the friendly, family orientation of Urbaser. The big focus on teamwork is everything you want to achieve the best. "

Jess

What do you do?

"I am a Business Administration Apprentice, and my duties include recording data on to Microsoft Excel, including updating what training my colleagues have taken; assisting my Line Manager in brainstorming ideas for the new Education/Visitors’ Centre, and participating in various training sessions. "

Why do you like your job?

"I like my role, because I am able to work both independently and in a team. I also enjoy learning how to record data and to develop my communication skills. "

How has Urbaser Ltd helped you in your job?

"Urbaser Ltd has helped me to develop both my communication skills and my organisation skills in the Administration area. The college is also giving me support in my apprenticeship. And I am looking forward to widening my horizons in the company. "

What are your future ambitions?

"I would like to explore other administration areas within the company, such as Finance and Payroll – working with numbers, accounts and learning different types of software. "