Careers at JCB: Josh's story

By Daibhid MacCann, Senior Marketing Executive

Struggling to find work despite qualifications after college, Josh joined JCB in 2013 on the recommendation of a friend and has never looked back. He now works in Compact Products, using his skills to fit engines. Here’s his story.

From college to the factory floor
When Josh left college, he found that there weren’t a lot of clear options for him within his industry. Despite his qualifications, he didn’t feel like he was having much luck translating what he’d learned into a suitable career pathway. A friend of Josh’s suggested JCB and Josh decided to give it a try. “Although the role has been varied” he says, “I’ve spent the majority of my almost nine years at JCB working with ITON Mini Excavators. I’m currently on the assembly line and it’s my responsibility to build and fit the engines in to the machines. I also support with fitting the electrical batteries on the ITON ETEC, so I play a pretty crucial part in getting these machines ready to leave the factory.”

A job where you work alongside colleagues who become friends
One of the best things about working at JCB, according to Josh, is “my colleagues”. He says, “even though we work hard, the atmosphere on the assembly line and getting to work with people I consider to be mates, makes it more like a social environment than a work environment."

Challenging himself in a challenging environment
For Josh, despite being on the assembly line, no two days are the same. “It is a constantly challenging job”, he says. “You don’t feel like you’re doing the same thing day in, day out.” And as for the people and management around him? “The people around you are always willing to listen to what you say and support you, and that really important.”

Clocking off and switching off
After a day in a busy factory, how does Josh switch off from it all? “Luckily for me, I feel like my line of work comes with very little stress. When I do finish work, I like nothing more than spending time with my friends and family.”

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​If, like Josh, you want to see where a career at JCB could take you and what skills you might learn along the way, we are also currently hiring Production Operatives at our sites across Staffordshire.
If you’re interested in working for JCB apply today here