Careers at JCB: Phil’s Story

By Daibhid MacCann, Talent Marketing Manager

Having worked at JCB previously before leaving to pursue other goals, Phil decided to return to the security and stability of a job and a company he had enjoyed when the pandemic turned the hospitality industry on its head.

Returning to JCB
Before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Phil had been successfully running a pub. With the hospitality industry taking an unprecedented hit during successive lockdowns, he knew he had to reconsider his options. Having worked at JCB previously and having had a great experience, a serendipitous radio broadcast advertising a recruitment drive for Production Operatives, Machinists and Welders, gave Phil all the encouragement he needed to reapply and get his foot back in the door. He tells us, 'I knew it was a good company, and I wish I hadn’t left.'

Putting his experience to good use
Although JCB were advertising roles which required no formal experience, Phil knew that having worked for them before, he would have a breadth of skills to bring to a new role. 'My first stint at JCB started back in 2001’, Phil says. ‘At that point I had absolutely no experience, but JCB were willing to train hard-working people and give them a chance to progress.’ It wasn’t long before Phil’s work ethic and willingness to learn paid off. ‘Within 12 months, I had a permanent contract and was leading my own team’.

Picking up where he left off
Because of his previous experience, Phil was able to pick things back up quickly. One year on and he’s still enjoying his work and being given responsibility to handle machinery on his own. As a CNC Machinist, Phil tells us he is ‘one man band’ who works as part of a larger team. ‘My machine only requires one operator, but because of the flow of work supplied and other operators working close by, you do feel like you’re really part of a team.’ That team is also helping Phil to learn more about the company as he says that ‘regular briefings take place and there’s always a chance to learn something new.’

A good decision
Coming back to JCB has turned out to be a positive experience for Phil. As well as getting on well with his colleagues on the factory floor, he also says there is ‘good communication from all management’, which helps him feel confident and content in his work. And does he miss running a busy pub? ‘The great thing about clocking off at JCB, is that you don’t have to think about work until the next day! I would recommend anyone with a little bit of flexibility and ambition to consider applying.’

If, like Phil, you are interested in a CNC Machinist role you can read more about the role and apply here

JCB is also recruiting production operatives with no previous experience required. If you’d like to take your next steps towards a fulfilling career with JCB, apply here