“I’ve never known so many friendly people.”
In today’s team spotlight we talk to Telecoms Project Manager John Baker about why, after 44 years in the industry, Trust’s the only place he wants to be…
Hi John, what do you do at Trust?
I’ve been at Trust for just over four and a half years, but I’ve been in the telecoms industry – mostly on BT projects – for about 44 years. So quite a long time. I started when I was 18 and I’m 62 now. Obviously I must like it because I’m still here!
I started as a lorry driver, then became a foreman, then worked my way up through the ranks to become a supervisor, and I’m now a project manager on telecoms here at Trust.
I actually worked for the company years ago, before Liam owned it, when it was still called AMH, down in Spondon. I was with AMH for 16 years, then I went to North Midland Construction, and then a few years ago a role came up and I saw an opportunity to come back.
I was working on CityFibre in Barnsley and Trust were advertising for a CityFibre delivery manager in Lincoln, so I went for it. They offered me the job, then Liam won another contract, this time sub-contracting for MJ Quinn on a major BT project. He asked me to run that and I’ll have been working on it for two years in November.
What does a typical day look like for you?
To be honest, every day’s totally different. But it’s always about engaging and collaborating with all of the different teams to make sure we have a safe, effective programme to deliver the project. I’ve got a good team who I highly respect. Without them, we just couldn’t run the job.
The work’s definitely challenging. You don’t always know what’s going to come up. We might get a safety call out at night, or at the weekend – there’s always something happening. Tonight, for example, we’re out working on the A610 at Ripley and that’s something we can’t do during the daytime, so we’ve been planning that for the last week or so, getting permits and getting the right team together. Everyone plays a really important part in getting the job done.
“I’ve got a good team who I highly respect. Without them, we just couldn’t run the job.”
What might people find surprising about your job?
I think they’d be surprised just how important team engagement and supporting each other are, especially on a project as challenging as the BT one. The foreman might come in in the morning, pick up a job pack and get started. But they won’t necessarily see how much work it’s taken to get to that point – to put that job pack together, get the safety and permits right, and make sure we’re on track so the client stays on the right side of Ofcom. There’s a lot of preparation put in to pave the way for each day’s work.
What do you love about your job and working at Trust?
I think the variety you get with this kind of work is what’s kept me doing it so long. One day you could have a big, complex job to do and the next you could just have a straightforward meter job.
At the moment my team’s made up of eight gangs, each with two people, plus two supervisors, two coordinators, a grab hand, two reinstaters and two runners who bring all the signing, lighting and guarding to site. So that’s quite a few people to look after. But they’re a good team, I’ve got a lot of praise for them – and I enjoy it, otherwise I wouldn’t have been doing it for all this time. The day goes by very, very quickly!
Also, I just love the way everyone’s so friendly with you at Trust, and everyone’s got each other’s back. I’ve never known so many friendly people to be honest – it’s a very, very friendly place to work, and that’s why I like coming in every day.
What’s been a real highlight in your career?
After so many years in this industry, I’ve seen a lot. A book wouldn’t even be long enough! But seeing our team evolve into a highly efficient department capable of delivering a project as complex as this one we’re doing for BT – that’s been really rewarding. The safety, the quality, the performance, we’ve got everything in place and that’s brilliant to see.
What are your ambitions for the future?
Well, I’m 62 and honestly, I’d like to stay here at Trust till I retire. Until then, I just want to keep making sure all of our work’s undertaken properly so everyone returns home to their loved ones at night very safely.
What would you say to someone thinking of joining the Trust team?
I’d recommend Trust to anyone – it’s like one big family. The team engagement and the support people give each other to deliver, is unbelievable. I wouldn’t have any hesitation at all in recommending someone to come and work here.
When you’re not at work, how do you like to spend your time?
I like watching any kind of sport, but every Sunday I spend a couple of hours playing long alley skittles, and it really helps me out. After 44 years, you’ve got to have a way of switching off from work!
If you’ve been inspired by John’s story. You can find out how you can join us here.
