Ross Lawcock - Engineering Manager at Wednesbury
"I enlisted into the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers as an Apprentice Vehicle Mechanic in 1986.
“After successfully completing my training, I spent the next 20+ years carrying out maintenance and repairs on a wide and varied array of equipment and vehicles in support of Infantry, Artillery and Engineering Regiments. During this time, I carried out multiple operational tours of Iraq, Bosnia and Northern Ireland as well as peacetime deployments to many countries including the Falkland Islands, Belize and Canada.
“I retired from the forces as a SNCO in 2009 and initially found transition from Army to Civilian life difficult so spent 2 years working for a military contractor. In 2012 I was offered the chance by lifelong friend Gary Malia – Wednesbury Operations manager- to join Yodel as an Engineer. I found this transition challenging at first, but eventually settled down and was promoted to Supervisor then Manager a couple of years later. I’ve worked with some really great people and characters in Yodel to successfully build a close knit Engineering team and complete high profile projects across not just our national hub, but also the wider operation. One of the biggest, and most successful, being the Merlin project in Wednesbury, that was the benchmark for an ‘automated manual’ sorter.
“It’s difficult to explain to non-forces personnel about the team spirit and work ethic you gain whilst serving, however I feel really privileged and proud to be part of the Wednesbury management team and the wider Yodel Engineering function, they’re a great group of people with a real “can do” attitude."