A Day in the Life Old

How does your day start once you arrive at Affinity?

Every day starts by logging in to check my emails, Microsoft issue advisories, network status, and any faults that appear as users start their day.

List some of the key responsibilities you have:

• IT Hardware faults
• User Accounts and Access
• Network
• Phone System & Mobiles

Why did you want to become an IT Manager?

Natural progression from helping users with faults, configuring operating systems & phones to managing everything.

What do you enjoy the most about your job role?

The varied role, I can honestly say that two days are never the same and when I walk in the office in the morning, I have no idea what will transpire or what questions will need answered.

What do you like best about working for Affinity?

I’ll give 3 simple reasons;

As IT Manager I am given the responsibility to look after all the Information and Communication assets, I appreciate the trust between myself and management to deliver a service with minimal constraints.

The openness and friendliness of the company, when the Management say they operate an open door, they genuinely mean it.

Coming from a large Company where you are a name on a piece of Paper, in my opinion Affinity are different and do care about each individual, as a company Affinity are still relatively young, however as a team we are moving forward.

How does your day start once you arrive at Affinity?

My day starts with checking the flying programme and what work there is to do for the day.

List some of the key responsibilities you have:

I am a Survival Equipment Supervisor, which entails carrying out Fitting of AEA to Aircrew, Scheduled maintenance, rectifications, and repair of Aircrew Equipment.

Why did you want to become a Survival Equipment Supervisor?

Survival Equipment can be a very challenging and also satisfying and by becoming the Supervisor has made my job roll more full filling.

What do you enjoy the most about your job role?

I enjoy every aspect of my job, meeting new people, the challenges and satisfaction the job entails.

What do you like best about working for Affinity?

I like working for Affinity, due to fact that the company is fair, understanding and everyone is so friendly and cooperative.

How does your day start once you arrive at Affinity?

Typically on a standard day, when I arrive at Barkston the first thing I do is get a cup of coffee and check the diary and state of aircraft liaising with the B1 Engineer to then formulate the Daily State Sheet (listing the serviceability of the aircraft) and distribute this accordingly across all three sites encompassing the MOD and Ascent.

I then check my emails/calendar meetings and plan for the day. I often work closely with Ascent, and deal with any operational requirements that impact on the daily flying that need addressing, ensuring our dedicated customer care, the flight line activity is carried out in a safe, professional and enthusiastic manner.

Why did you want to become a Site Manager?

I am passionate about the work we do here and after leaving the RAF after 30 years and briefly working in Retail Management, I feel that my experience will be valuable in leading the team towards greater success. I had many years of managerial experience and learned primarily from leadership style choices and realized what works to motivate one person has the opposite effect on another.

What do you enjoy the most about your job role?

Being part of a decision making process and Continuous improvement to make our process more efficient, delivering good communications and building relationships with external customers. During my time as Affinity I have taken more responsibilities, as a relatively new company there are so many opportunities to improve efficiency.

What do you like best about working for Affinity?

I enjoy the people and team work. I like that I have room to grow within the company, and feel respected and valued for what I can bring to the company; the encouragement to come up with my own ideas and to provide input to the team is very important to me.

As Site Manager, I’m in charge of the day-to-day running of RAF Barkston Heath, which involves a range of daily activities; from liaising with Ascent, Licensed Engineers and Shift Leaders to keeping good communications with Cranwell and overseeing Flight Line Operations.  There is such a wide range of activity on a Flight Line like this and as the students progress through their training no two days, or in fact any month, is the same.