Avril joined Peel Ports in 2019 as a project coordinator and has since been promoted
twice, first to engineering coordinator and then to her current role, facilities &
infrastructure manager. She oversees all infrastructure projects at Great Yarmouth,
supporting the team there and liaising with customers and contractors, as well as colleagues at other sites.
"It would honestly be impossible to describe a typical day at my job because it’s so varied! It’s completely different from one day to the next, which is one of the things I love most about it."
"Great Yarmouth is a busy port, and we’re a small team – the engineering department
is run by a small number of people, so we have plenty on our plate."
"When I started here as a project coordinator five years ago, I very much wore just my
project engineering hat, so it was easier to keep on top of a to-do list and give my
full 100% focus on a task. As my role has evolved over the years, I’ve started wearing
more hats (sometimes literally) as I’ve taken on more responsibilities, which makes it’s
harder to manage a daily to-do list."
"When I started here, I was out and about a lot more with contractors, overseeing
projects and surveying the infrastructure. Now that my role has evolved, I spend
much more time inside looking at a screen – Capex projects could be a full-time job in
its own right! – so I’m very conscious that I need to get out on site more, and try to strike a balance between the two."
"I think I’m well suited to my job because I like a challenge, so regularly being tasked
with finding solutions to problems is really satisfying. I’m also privileged to get to work
with amazing colleagues in Great Yarmouth, and our other sites, as well as contractors
and customers. Being linked with Sheerness as part of the South East Ports Cluster
means we have regular meetings and we’re always sharing our knowledge, skills and
experience, which has had a really positive effect on how we work as a team here at
Great Yarmouth."
"Once my working day is over, I hit the gym each evening before heading home.
I have a passion for bodybuilding, and recently achieved a huge goal, winning a
bodybuilding contest, which acquired more dedication, motivation and discipline. The
gym gives me an hour or two to myself, a place where I switch off from my working
day before I spend some quality time with my children!"