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Working at AAK

So What Do You Do Then?

Mike Stewart

“My official job title is Technical Manager, but my responsibilities cover a wide area, including health and safety, technical and quality assurance, as well as environmental. 
 
“In my technical role, I make sure that the company is protected against the food safety legislation and that we have systems and procedures in place to make sure that our products meet food safety requirements.
 
“A team of around 20 people is involved in the auditing and testing of products and systems to ensure that we meet our legal responsibilities. Our primary objective is that our products are fit for purpose and meet customers’ specifications.
 
“Our retail and industrial customers carry out audits on our company to satisfy themselves that our facilities are clean and hygienic and that we are working to their agreed product specifications. We get involved with this audit process and usually meet with the customer’s technical staff so that together, we can meet their individual requirements.

“At the same time, we have to demonstrate compliance with HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) which is ‘a system which identifies, evaluates and controls hazards which are significant for food safety.’ So we liaise with the Food Standards Agency and the Environmental Health Officers from the local council on a regular basis, to ensure that our systems and procedures are up to scratch.

“I’m also the ‘competent person’ for Health and Safety on site. This means that it’s up to me to advise the company on appropriate safety systems to keep our employees safe, and it’s worth remembering that all employees have a legal duty to comply with these safety systems. I write the procedures for carrying out risk assessments aimed at reducing risks as far as reasonably practicable.”

It’s also Mike’s role to make sure that as a company we’re as environmentally friendly as possible, as he explained: “Our waste products and emissions are carefully monitored and evaluated so that we meet government standards and it’s my job to manage compliance with these standards.”
 
As part of a team of AAK managers, Mike recently went to America to attend the Global Leadership Academy and while he was there he took the chance to visit our sister factory in Newark, New Jersey. “It was great to meet up with my opposite number, Laura who I speak to regularly on the phone, and put a face to a name,” said Mike. “It was really helpful to share work experiences and practices and it always helps to maintain good professional relationships with other sites in the AAK group.”

Since Mike’s wide remit also covers the AAK factories in Oldham and Runcorn, he’s looking forward to some invaluable assistance from Steve Harrison, an experienced Health and Safety manager who joined the company in September.

Welcome to our new recruits

Stephanie Whitaker 

Taking a year out in industry as part of her Business and Psychology degree course, Stephanie Whitaker started work with us in July, as an intern in the Marketing Department.
 
Stephanie has completed the first two years of her degree at Aston University Business School and is working at AAK in Hull until next summer, before returning to university to complete her final year.
 
Speaking about her experience so far, she said: “I’m really enjoying working at AAK as a Marketing Assistant. As part of the Marketing team, I’ve been helping to put together the new retail brochure, which will be sent out to new and current customers, as well as working on the new website and carrying out competitor analysis.
 
“I was initially attracted to the company by the thought of being part of a large organisation, where I could offer my enthusiasm and ideas and get valuable work experience in return. As we’re coming up to the launch of some new products, I’ve had a great opportunity to get involved in all aspects of the marketing process.”

AarhusKarlshamn UK Ltd
King George Dock, Hull, HU9 5PX, England
T: +44 (0)1482 701 271 | E: uk.info@aak.com