A Day in the Life: Air & Emissions Team Leader

“I’ve been in SOCOTEC’s Air and Emissions division for five years now. After studying Environmental Science at the University of Nottingham, I wanted to pursue a job in the Environmental sector.”

Amy on…the MCERTS scheme

“My career at SOCOTEC has progressed through the government’s MCERTS scheme – the work we do at SOCOTEC goes towards the training and experience needed for MCERTS. Five years ago, I started here as a trainee, and then after six months I took the exam to be a Level One Technician. I’ve now also done the final MCERTS competence level exams needed in order to be a Level 2 Team Leader.

“As a Team Leader, I get to set the schedule and have the freedom to arrange everything which is both my favourite and least favourite part – it’s a lot of responsibility!”

A Day in the Life: Amy Tanner, Air and Emissions Team Leader

Amy on…working in Air & Emissions

“Every day is different. We normally have to be on the client’s sites by 8:30am, so it can be an early start. On site, I meet our contacts, go through all the safety guidance, and set up the kit. Sometimes setting this up can take an entire day as there’s so much kit and the sites can be difficult to navigate, for example at oil refineries we need to get the kit 40 metres up in the air. Once we’ve done that, we can calibrate and check the kit is working, then start testing.

“I couldn’t list the amount of things we test for – there’s so many pollutants and every single one’s got a different test. When on-site, you’ve got to know what you’re testing for and what you’ve got to do to get there.

“We have a wide range of clients. One of our biggest clients is an oil refinery, and we also cover a lot of waste incinerators. As an example, one week I could be at an asphalt plant, and the next week I could be at a metal manufacturer.”

Amy on…advice for being a woman in this field

“My colleagues at SOCOTEC are great, they’ve never treated me any different to the guys in the team, and I’m lucky that I have another girl with me – Catherine Elsey, Air and Emissions Team Leader.

“My only grievance is that quite often I’m overlooked by site contacts when we’re on site as I’m fairly young and quite small, as well as being a girl. The contact will sometimes go to the six-foot tall, male trainee rather than me, despite being a Team Leader. You’ve got to have the confidence in yourself to prove to other people that you’re in charge.”