A Day In The Life
We want to show you what our team gets up to on a day-to-day basis.
Our job profile is written by Fran Winter who works as a Network Protection Manager.
Name
Fran Winter
Job Title
Network Protection Manager
Hometown
Barnsley
Duration at Yorkshire Water
7 months
What does your day to day job involve?
My job is extremely varied on a day to day basis, which is one of the reasons I enjoy it so much. So there is no such thing as a typical day!
Part of my day might involve working with the communications team on the continued development of our Bin It. Don't Flush It sewer flooding campaign which urges customers to play their part in helping to prevent flooding by not disposing of items incorrectly down their drains.
A large part of my role involves researching solutions for businesses around how they can best dispose of fats, oils and grease. As a result of this I often meet and speak with manufacturers and suppliers of the different products such as grease interceptors and dosing solutions. To test the products effectiveness I have set up trials in problem areas so that I know which ones I can suggest to businesses that can sometimes be the source of some of our issues.
I work closely with our solutions teams and field case managers to discuss how we can work together on solving high-profile issues such as repeated internal flooding incidents or pollution problems.
A regular part of my job involves visiting business customers following a flooding or pollution incident caused by irresponsible disposal of unsuitable materials. This visit will involve auditing current waste management practices and setting out a necessary action plan for them to prevent a re-occurrence. I will often meet up with enforcement officers from the local council, our field case managers or business customer services team to assist me with these communications.
Helping to reduce the problems caused by the inappropriate disposal of fats, oils and grease is something Yorkshire Water cannot achieve on its own so working with local authorities is key to success. We are very aware that these on-going problems are likely to be inherited by ourselves if the proposed private to public sewer handover goes ahead in around two years time, so working together with councils to help solve private drainage issues is definitely in everyone's best interests.
What types of business customers do you work with?
From the local chippy to national companies such as the big chain supermarkets, NHS, local authorities and restaurant and hotel chains.
How does your work help businesses in the region?
All businesses want to show that they have a commitment to improving the environment and by showing responsible disposal of their waste products they are fulfilling this.
Some businesses have little knowledge on the correct disposal of fats, oils and greases and I can help educate them on this and suggest ways for them to stop fats going down the drains. It not only benefits us by protecting our sewerage network but also helps businesses prevent blockages in their own drains which could be very disruptive to them. Preventing blockages from occurring reduces the chance of pest and vermin infestations, odours and also minimises the chance of having formal legal action being taken against them for incorrect disposal of waste.
My work is also about improving relationships with our business customers, helping them to help us which in turn helps them operate in a more environmental and sustainable way that benefits their business and their customers.
What is your biggest achievement whilst working at Yorkshire Water?
I never realised the huge scale of the problem of sewer abuse that exists for Yorkshire Water and even if I get the message through to one customer and change their behaviour is an achievement in itself. I'm pleased with a project I set up in Haxby to try and combat the fats, oils and grease problem.
What do you do in your spare time?
What don't I do!!! In my spare time I do Jazz, Modern and Street dance in Leeds, which has been a passion of mine for many years. I am also a member of the Lamproom Theatre Company in Barnsley and take part in a production every 5 months. The next productions will be Blackadder and Carousel.
I've also just taken up ice skating lessons after getting to the semi-finals of Real Radio's Sheffield Ice Factor competition?I thought dancing on ice would be easy but I was wrong?I can currently go forwards?.and that's it.
On top of the ice, I also like to hit the snow at Xscape for a bit of snowboarding.
I also go horse-riding when I have the time and have show-jumped in the Great Yorkshire Show?but not this year?as I was manning the YW stand!
If i'm not treading the boards, prancing, sliding, slipping and galloping then I will be pounding the streets of Barnsley with my German Shepherd in preparation for some marathons next year!
