Glenn Tasker, Process Development Technologist, Cavaghan & Gray, Hull

I started my career at the Brighton Street site in Hull in 1989 before it became part of Northern Foods.

I was on a 13-week temporary contract and on my first day I found myself stood beside my Mum packing beef burgers into cartons. It was my Mum who got me the job after my previous employer stopped trading. Little did I know that 17 years later I would still be working at the same site.

After a period of time in the packing halls of the then Ross Young’s factory, I was rewarded with a full time position away from the burger packing and into the meat preparation area.

Down the years I have worked on virtually every piece of machinery in the factory, from burger forming machinery, bowl choppers and mincing kits to seasoning dusters and cooking vessels.

 
While I was quite happy working on the production side of things I was constantly looking at ways of progressing my career, which I did at quite regular intervals. In December 1996 a position became available within our Quality Assurance (QA) department, I applied and was successful. I learnt a greater understanding of the business as a whole during my time in this position and enjoyed the responsibility of policing the factory and championing greater quality of our products. While working in QA, Northern Foods acquired the site and I also worked as a raw materials auditor which gave me a wide knowledge of the products coming onto site and built strong relationships with suppliers.

In January 2005 I moved into our Process Development team. The role requires us to take new products from concept, through feasibility and then ensure they can be produced using the processes in our factory and, if required, amend the processes to suit. It can be a very complex and busy job but ultimately very rewarding.

I feel I have never been held back during my time here. I constantly look for ways to “step up the ladder” but I am more than happy in my current role. I get a great sense of achievement and job satisfaction by seeing my products go from an idea to someone actually buying the product from the supermarket shelves.

Another great thing about my current position is the people I work with. I work in a large open plan office which means that even on the darkest, busiest days there is always someone to make you laugh or chat to and they are mostly very helpful. I sincerely thank my colleagues for that. 

My current favourite product is the Asda Extra Special Spaghetti Bolognese (I urge everyone to go out and buy it!!).