We sat down with Contracts Manager Mark Saunders, who has been pinnacle to the growth of LOS for the last 37 years.
What initially attracted you to join LOS, and how has that initial impression evolved over the years?
“Desire at 16, to become an electrician, inspired by my dad, who worked for the company, since he left school. The company has evolved & been through many changes over the years, surviving by being the resilient, adaptive & strong company, as it is today.”
Reflecting on your time with LOS, what achievements or contributions are you most proud of?
“Being given the opportunity & support to grow with the company & improve myself.
Being awarded a £10k bursary in 2002 on the Master of Industrial Practice initiative, to support the professional development of practicing engineers, as funded by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation. This gave me the tools to develop skills & qualifications I needed, to achieve what I have today.”
In what ways has the company provided opportunities for you to grow both personally and professionally?
“With the company investing in me on training courses & qualifications, which led to me becoming an Incorporated Engineer, the company benefits by having a professionally recognized leadership team.”
What unique perks or benefits does the company offer that have made a difference in your tenure here?
“The longer you are with the company, the benefits & perks do improve & this was highlighted when finding out that I needed triple heart bypass surgery & having the medical insurance cover that provided me with a speedier response & support during recovery.”
What motivates you to stay with the company for so long?
“Being part of a great team, ability to grow with the company & maintaining a good work/life balance.”
What advice would you give new employees starting in the company?
“This is a great time to join LOS, as if you want to achieve personally & professionally, the company will support you to progress in your career.”
What do you enjoy most about working here, and what keeps you excited to come to work every day?
“Every day is different, there are some challenges you don’t want, but will always find a solution, personally or from within the team, to resolve the issues.”
Can you share a challenging moment or obstacle you faced while working here and how you overcame it?
“There have been many over the years, but more recently, when it was said that we want our management systems to be audited & approved by BSI, but not just quality, but Health & Safety & Environmental & all at the same time, but as normal, we work as a team & put into place the reports, audits & documentation to achieve this.”
Looking ahead, what are your hopes and aspirations for the future of both your career and the company?
“The company has a great foundation & history to build on & we haven’t been working for Thames Water for the last 35+years by luck & with the current practically minded & professional team, we can steadily continue to grow the company over the next few years. For me, I aspire to be a Chartered Engineer within the profession, something that I would never have thought possible 37 years ago.”
