One of our Company Business Graduates, Pavi Srikaran, discusses his day on the road with service engineer, Christian Turetta. As with all of our business graduates, Pavi has been spending time working and learning within multiple facets of the business.
Recently, I was given the opportunity to spend a day with Christian Turetta, one of the service engineers at Veolia Water Technologies UK. As a Company Business Graduate, this unique opportunity provided invaluable insights into the service department and the dedication of its engineers and from watching Christian, it was clear that they take immense pride in delivering exceptional service for their customers. Coming from an engineering background, it was very interesting to watch how the service engineers approach their work, moreover, I got more of an understanding of some of the products that Veolia offers.
On this particular day, Christian’s job took us to Camden Town in London to service a range of VWT UK’s lab water purification systems at the Royal Veterinary College. At that moment in time, Christian had only been with the company for 6 months but worked like a seasoned veteran, a testament to the effectiveness of Veolia Water Technologies' training programmes. His background as an aeronautical engineer in the Navy didn’t hurt either!
The water purification technologies in question that needed servicing were variations of the PURELAB® Chorus. On the surface, they all function the same way. However, it became clear that depending on the output and grade of purified water required, certain parts and service patterns needed to vary from one unit to the next. Christian carried out these services professionally and diligently, an example of Veolia Water Technologies' commitment to delivering high-standard service work. One aspect that struck me was Christian’s friendly, informative communication skills with the customer throughout the entire process, ensuring that they were fully informed of his work and also the product itself. It was evident that he has a great level of commitment and shows a substantial level of care within his work. It was clear that he enjoyed his work and working for Veolia Water Technologies UK.
On our way back from my day on the road with Christian servicing our PURELAB® Chorus units, I decided to interview him with a quick Q&A!
What attracted you to Veolia Water Technologies? 
Previously, I used to work in the Royal Navy working as an Aeronautical engineer. However, due to the fact that I was away from home for long periods of time, I wouldn't say I liked it. Fortunately, I found Veolia Water Technologies which operates all around the UK, which was ideal for me as it meant I could be at home. Furthermore, it was made clear that they value career progression which is important for me.
What does a typical day look like?
Usually with servicing and maintenance jobs, it’ll just be me but with installations, there will be a colleague present too. The first thing before I start the job is to make sure I know the details and let the customer know when I plan to arrive. If it works for the customer, I like to arrive on site early at 8am.
When I arrive and meet the customer(s), we usually talk about what is required, the equipment being serviced and any other essential information. Before I start work, I will always answer compliance and risk assessments to ensure safety and efficiency on site.
Once I begin, I check my work order which lists a range of information that is related to the job including the product and its last service. A service is usually straightforward, changing parts and running tests but sometimes things can get slightly more complicated, yet I can rely on my thorough training and our network of engineers to support me to get the job done. Once a service is complete, I make sure that it is signed off so that the customer(s) and the next engineer know exactly what job took place. A list of the work will be noted for reference. Once all the work is completed for the customer they will be notified.
How did you get into engineering?
Previously, I used to work in the Royal Navy working as an Aeronautical engineer. So I have always had an engineering background and enjoy a hands-on approach at work, especially when trying to solve complex problems! I believe as engineers we gain a great level of satisfaction when solving intricate issues and trying to be as intuitive as possible. I want to be challenged every day which engineering provides.
What is the best thing about working at Veolia Water Technologies UK?
There are many things that I like about working at Veolia, but if I can pinpoint one thing it would be the career progression. I have only been in the company for 6 months but have already been made aware of the range of ways I can develop and increase my skills and position within the company. I have completed many training programmes already but I am looking forward to doing some more. This is something that I stand by as it is important for my future; I can see myself working long-term within Veolia Water Technologies UK.
Learn more about our engineer vacancies at Veolia Water Technologies UK and apply for job opportunities here.
Author | Pavi Srikaran
Pavi has been working as a Company Business Graduate for Veolia Water Technologies for a little over 3 months. Pavi's educational background is in Mechanical Engineering, combining Physics, Maths and Business. Currently, he is using his Mechanical Engineering knowledge to apply to his role on a daily basis at Veolia Water Technologies.
