As a family-run business, our people are at the heart of our business. To celebrate our employees and showcase what the construction and M&E industries have to offer, we will be sharing our ‘A Day in the Life’ campaign. This time we have David Gammage, one of our Quality Assurance Supervisors.
Below we have asked David a series of questions to get to know him a little better, his day-to-day tasks as a Quality Assurance Supervisor and the value he brings to Watkins.
Q – Could you tell us a little about your role at Watkins?
A – My current role for Watkins is a Quality Assurance Supervisor. The role allows me to have an overview of quality standards throughout the company.
Examples include 1st & 2nd fix installation works, commissioning through to company policies and procedures, and ensuring they are being undertaken.
Q – What about your background and how you entered the industry?
A – I am a third generation plumbing and heating engineer. I worked with my father after leaving school in 2000 whilst undertaking my plumbing apprenticeship at Croydon College, where I worked towards my NVQ 3 in Mechanical Engineering Services.
After working with him for 12 years, I decided it was time for a change and joined Watkins as a Customer Care Engineer where I have been for 11 years in differing roles.
Q – What does your typical day look like as an Estimator?
A – In my role as a Quality Assurance Supervisor, no two days are the same as there is large variety to the work.
On any day, I could be carrying out QA checks, writing polices, training of staff through to ‘hands on’ works such as commercial gas purges, installation works and heat pump commissioning.
I may also be found in the office writing technical bulletins or addressing issues with gas management policies and procedures.
Q – What has been one of your favourite projects you have worked on during your time at Watkins?
A – I wouldn’t call it a favourite project as such, but I have enjoyed the on-going process of helping to improve the overall standards and quality of product we as a company hand over to our clients.
Q – Would you encourage others to enter the construction industry?
A – Yes, I think it’s important that we encourage the next generation of young people to come into the construction industry rather than straight into higher education.
Currently, there is a shortage of around 100,000 heat pump installers in the UK – a figure almost equivalent to the entire current Gas Safe Register.
This shows the real importance in attracting the next generation of plumbing and heating engineers into the industry, as well as the upskilling and training of existing personnel to understand these newer technologies needed to achieve the ambitious target of net zero by 2050.
Q – And to finish it up, can you tell me a fun or interesting fact about yourself?
A – I have received the Freedom of the City of London and recently was made a Liveryman in the Worshipful Company of Plumbers whose origins can be dated back to as early as 1365.
Check out our other “Day in the Life” articles. Click below to see what it’s like to be an Estimator:
