Chris Coleman our HOLMER Harvester specialist

Chris Coleman, Harvester Specialist and Service Coordinator, joined the Agrifac team over two and a half years ago. With a vast and strong background in engineering, he now provides technical support to the beet harvester team, as well as to customers all across the UK. We caught up with him as the 2018/19 beet season drew to a close to find out more about his role within the company.

 

Q: Talk us through your engineering career, and how you found your way into Agrifac UK?

A: From school, I went straight to Riseholme College in Lincolnshire to study Agriculture. I really wanted to study engineering, but the course didn’t run the year that I started. Luckily, there was a module within my course which was mechanics so I could learn the basics alongside other elements of the course. During my course I was lucky enough to start an engineering apprenticeship at the Royal Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.

 

Q: Wow that sounds amazing! What would you say were the highlights of working there?

A: I was fortunate to meet the Queen on a few occasions, so that has to be a highlight, but ultimately just being able to have the opportunities I was offered when I was there. They put me through another course which allowed me to gain my Engineering qualification. I also lived with a great bunch of lads within the Chefs Quarter of Sandringham House - there’s memories from our time there that will last a lifetime!

 

Q: What happened after your time at Sandringham?

A: I was headhunted to join CTM Engineering from here, who noticed me through college and my apprenticeship, where I stayed for a number of years. I’ve also been with a couple of other Engineering Companies between then and my time at Agrifac. Before starting my role here, Agrifac also headhunted me which was a really proud achievement for me and a fantastic compliment that they’d heard about my skills within my previous roles.

 

Q: You must be very proud that your skills aren’t going unnoticed! What’s your favourite part about your job?

A: Everything. There’s nothing that I don’t enjoy. If I had to pinpoint one thing that I enjoy most, it’s getting satisfaction out of fixing stuff that no one else can. I won’t go out to a job and do anything half-hearted. If that means me staying out until the evening, or going back to the job the next day, then so be it. I can’t leave anything that’s not solved. It’s definitely important to have the passion for the job in a role like this, because it’s more like a lifestyle.

 

Q: So with your job being an extension of your lifestyle, what do you get up to outside of work?

A: At the moment, I’m in the process of renovating our family home. We’re getting there - and I’ve got the most important features sorted including my new workshop! I also go downhill mountain biking with my friends when I get chance to, and am really into my shooting. I used to live with gamekeepers during my time at Sandringham, so that hobby has stuck with me since then. When I get time also, I have a real passion for my cars, and restoring old vehicles to their full glory. I’ve just finished restoring my Series 3 Land Rover, and am currently working on my Fiat X19.