The significance of projects for companies cannot be understated. Companies invest substantial amounts of capital in projects because they seek solutions to pressing problems or opportunities for growth. However, successfully executing projects while managing day-to-day operations can be challenging. Throughout the project lifecycle, unexpected issues such as unforeseen costs, delays, lack of accountability, and conflicts can arise, especially as projects become more complex. This is where effective project management becomes crucial.

 

At Protolan, Our Project Managers assumes responsibility for the project, ensuring proper planning, coordination, and execution of different activities. With a proficient Project Manager leading the way, Protolan ensures project resources are efficiently allocated, communication flows seamlessly between stakeholders, and problems are detected and addressed proactively.

 

Effective project management significantly enhances the chances of a project progressing smoothly and delivering the expected results. We had a conversation with Ivan, a member of our Project Engineering Management team at Protolan, and we asked him about the key qualities that define a notable project manager. Here is the valuable insight he shared with us:

 

“What sets a Project Manager apart are not just individual skills, but a combination of skills working in harmony”, Ivan continued…

 

Proactivity

A competent Project Manager stays two steps ahead, constantly monitoring for potential issues. They maintain ongoing communication with stakeholders to ensure each stage of the project meets expectations and keeps everyone informed.

Curiosity

They possess in-depth knowledge of various project areas, proactively seeking to understand every aspect of the project by asking pertinent questions. For example, when dealing with equipment installation, they would go beyond basic details like lead time and price and delve into operational impacts, required services, logistical considerations, and safety compliance.

Interpersonal Skills

Project Managers need to collaborate with contractors, suppliers, on-site managers, operatives, and clients. They effectively coordinate their efforts, ensuring timely and budget-conscious delivery while providing support to overcome challenges.

 

To illustrate the impact of project management, a specific example stands out. During a project with a renowned manufacturer, the installation of a temporary building and subsequent bottle packing line had strict timelines due to another project’s impending capital investment. However, a significant issue emerged when leaks were discovered in the building’s roof during construction. Recognising the potential impact on the project’s timeline, we took swift action. We prioritised specific areas of the building installation to ensure a dry environment for equipment installation. Coordination and organisation were crucial in managing the workload and avoiding conflicts between different contractor teams. By communicating the revised schedule to all parties involved and coordinating their efforts, we successfully mitigated risks and ensured the project was delivered on time despite the unforeseen challenges.

 

This example highlights the added value of effective project management. It showcases the ability to adapt, prioritise, and coordinate resources in order to overcome obstacles and deliver successful outcomes.

 

What truly sets Protolan apart in the realm of project management is our comprehensive understanding of the intricacies and nuances of the food and drink industry. Armed with a wealth of knowledge and insights gained through numerous successful projects, Protolan has established themselves as the go-to partner for food and drink businesses seeking transformative solutions.

 

About Ivan

Ivan joined Protolan from completing the Management Development Services Internship Programme. He is a driven food industry professional with over three years of managerial experience in international projects with a capital investment of up to £1,000,000. He is passionate about helping food companies produce high-quality foods in the most efficient and sustainable way. Find out more about our team here.

Protolan are proud to announce the appointment of Nate McCann as Vice President of Operations in the United States.

 

Since our launch in 2010, we have successfully delivered various multi-faceted projects across the US, building strong client relationships, and developing a robust presence.

A dedicated presence in the US means we can support our stateside clients on a local scale from our new offices based in Irvine, California.  This West Coast central location allows us the flexibility to provide support for the challenges our client’s face, wherever in the US they are.

Joining the team, Nate said “I am excited to join Protolan, the opportunities and potential for the company within the States are endless and I can’t wait to be involved with growing the US business.”

Nate joins us with an extensive background in the food and beverage industry. With over 15 years of international project experience, he is expert in managing food and beverage projects, resulting in the delivery of processing plants with optimum food manufacturing standards.

Director, Richard Whittle added “It is with immense pride we welcome Nate to the Protolan team. Nate’s track record within food and beverage capital projects is extensive. This, combined with his grit and determination to support our growth, will drive Protolan’s presence within the US and boost the support we offer our clients. He will be a great asset to our team.”

 

Nate’s appointment as Vice President is a key milestone of which we are proud. As our second overseas senior leader to join the team in the past 12 months, we now have a dedicated presence in the US and Central Eastern Europe, which is a testament to our drive for growth worldwide.

At Protolan, we are proud to offer graduates the opportunity of practical, hands-on project management and engineering experience within the food manufacturing industry. James is currently 5-months into his Industrial Year Placement from the University of Nottingham, studying MEng Mechanical Engineering. We caught up with him to find out his experiences so far on the Protolan team.

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So, James why Protolan?

I discovered Protolan at a University Event where one of my colleagues (a student at the time) was presenting what he had done on his placement year at Protolan. The way he talked about the company culture really caught my attention and made me research a bit more. I love food, so the food/beverage industry just made sense, and I have a lot of experience leading people, and enjoy working in teams, so everything fell into place with Protolan!

And what do you enjoy most about this role?

I get very excited about working in food manufacturing as I love food, and find it so interesting to see how its made. I am currently working on a pet food manufacturing project, which means I get to visit the factory to help manage the project, and there are usually a few dogs at the office (which is great). Being involved in real-world projects, as opposed to university work, is so rewarding and as a placement student in an SME, I get a lot of responsibility to really make an impact.

Describe the Food Manufacturing Industry in one word…

…Exciting

What is one piece of advice you would give to someone just entering the industry?

I have only been in the industry for 5 months, but I would just say that no two projects are the same, and so be prepared to learn something new each day.

Tell us about a project that stands out to you…

As I mentioned, I am working on a pet food project. However, this food is not ordinary dog food, instead its so healthy and good quality that humans taste it every day in the factory canteen! To see raw ingredients be brought in and then the entire process to be carried out in-house is quite something. In 2 minutes, you can literally walk from one end of the line where raw meat and produce are being weighed out, to the other where the final product is loaded into a crate to then be packed ready for the customer.

What strengths have you built on since joining the team?

I have always considered myself a good communicator and team player, however since working on projects I have had to learn how to understand who I am communicating to and what they need to know. I deal with loads of different people, from contractors to high-level clients. Each person needs a different kind of motivation, so I have learnt how to adapt to this.

What interests do you have outside of work?

I love sports. Hockey is my main game that I play, but I also love to watch American football.

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To find out more about our Protolan Team click here.

We are passionate about developing new talent and are constantly looking for the next generation of talent to keep Protolan at its best. Click here if you would like to discuss a career in Food and Drink manufacturing.

Continuing our quest to showcase our team, let’s introduce you to Tyler Simmonite.

After completing his MEng in Chemical Engineering at the University of Nottingham, Tyler joined Protolan as an Easter Project Engineering Intern and we are proud to announce that Tyler returned, becoming a full-time member of our team for almost 2 years.

Read his his journey so far…

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Hi, I’m Tyler Simmonite and I have been with Protolan the past 18 months as a Project Engineering Manager.

I joined Protolan upon graduating from my Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Nottingham. When I was in my 2nd year of university, I completed an internship with Protolan which kickstarted my passion for working in food!

I went on to work as a Production Engineer in appliance manufacturing where I gained some hands-on experience in the day to day of manufacturing and implemented a variety of projects in support of Continuous Improvement and Lean Engineering, which eventually brought me to my current role.

Since joining Protolan, I have worked on a variety projects of different scales, from feasibility through design to installation and commissioning. I’ve worked closely with clients in the meat sector, bottled drinks and vegetarian / plant-based products to provide them with what they need to find the best solutions. This has given me the opportunity to observe a multitude of existing processes first-hand, as well as engage with equipment suppliers to discover the latest technology.

As a team, we have some interesting discussion sessions on different topics from food hygiene and packaging, to factory design. Overall, the job has offered me some great opportunities to exchange knowledge with the experienced food industry professionals we have at Protolan.

Living just outside the Peak District, I enjoy spending time in the outdoors, either for a scenic walk or something more adventurous. I also like to travel and experience different cultures. I love food and cooking, meeting people and trying new experiences. There’s not a lot that you could throw my way that I wouldn’t be keen to take part in!

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To find out more about our Protolan Team click here.

We are passionate about developing new talent and are constantly looking for the next generation of talent to keep Protolan at its best. Click here if you would like to discuss a career in Food and Drink manufacturing.

At Protolan, we are proud to offer graduates the opportunity of practical, hands-on project management and engineering experience within the food manufacturing industry. Eleri is nearing the end of her Industrial Year Placement from the University of Nottingham, studying MEng Chemical and Environmental Engineering. We caught up with her to find out her experiences so far on the Protolan team. 

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So, Eleri, how are you enjoying Protolan?

“I’ve had a great time working at Protolan since I joined the company in September! No two days are the same and the learning opportunities are endless. From working on future projects, to solving day-to-day operational challenges with the highly experienced team on site, I couldn’t recommend the placement opportunity at Protolan highly enough. I’ve really been made to feel like a valued member of the team”.

And what are some of the challenges you’ve found so far?

“It’s very different from working with ideal data at university to using real time data on site – sometimes, it is challenging, but I really enjoy it and I am always open to learning new things. The various competencies the Protolan team offers to improve my knowledge is invaluable. My placement in Project Engineering Management at Protolan matches my career goals for the future and gives me the opportunity to contribute to live projects”.

What are you looking forward to learning more about?

“I’m really enjoying learning about the fundamentals of project management in the food manufacturing sector and can’t wait to see what opportunities I’ll have and challenges I’ll face next!”

Eleri, what are you passionate about?

“Being a woman in Engineering encourages me to strive for excellence and not let working in a male-dominated industry deter me from this. I believe I have a responsibility to promote women in the industry and engage aspiring girls and young women, something I hope to continue to do throughout my placement as a STEM Ambassador”.

Tell us a little about some of the projects you’re involved in at the moment with Protolan…

“The project I’m currently working on is at a Vegan factory, which I joined during the equipment installation and commissioning stage. This involves upgrading the manufacturing processes within the factory, with the objective to increase automation whilst maximising profit and efficiency. Throughout this project I’m constantly improving my communication and interpersonal skills whilst working in an interdisciplinary team, as well as becoming more proficient in the use of AutoCAD. I’m also involved in several feasibility studies within the factory, looking at what future projects are achievable and the associated costs and programme timescales. This is giving me a better understanding of the procurement of equipment and ensuring the scope of work produced is up to the standard the client expects”.

Lastly, what are your plans post-Protolan?

“After finishing my masters next year, I’m looking forward to putting my theoretical knowledge into practice and helping to solve real-world problems in the food manufacturing industry!”.

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We are Hiring!

If you would like to discuss a career in the exciting world of Food and Drink manufacturing then click here.

As we carry on the pursuit of showcasing our talented team, we are proud to introduce Shayne Ford. Shayne has been with Protolan for coming up to a year, however, his knowledge and experience in the food and drinks industry stretches far beyond that! Read below to find out more of Shayne’s interesting and world-reaching career. 

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“My name is Shayne Ford and have over 35 years of experience within the Food and Beverage FMCG industry.

I’m a Senior Project Manager and I have been working with Protolan since the start of 2021. Within the short time I have been on the Protolan team, I have been involved with projects for many household names across a large spectrum of different sectors.

My working life has been with the FMCG industry , mainly within Brewing and Soft Drinks. I started as an apprentice with a company that made equipment for the brewing industry, I then moved to work for a large branded soft drink company spending over 25 years with them where I completed my engineering degree.

I was responsible for  delivering capital projects, managing a production site and then moving into the international business when this was set up. During my time in the international team I was lucky to travel across the world, spending much time in USA, China, India and Dubai to name a few!

After Years with a large company , it’s been great to join a small growing team that are all working towards the same common goals and sharing the same vision. One item that I like and enjoy is that we have a team of people from across the range of work experience, from people still doing their degree, to those just graduated and then the ‘old timers’ like myself , so it has been great to give back to those early in their early working life. It’s a great team where doing well is acknowledged and feedback is encouraged and listened too.

Alongside my extensive career, I have been married for over 21 years and we have a daughter who is now in her 3^rd Year at University studying Mechanical Engineering whom I am very proud of. My main interests are off-roading and touring – we have taken one of my Land Rover Defenders to Morocco for touring in the dessert! We are also in the process of a nuts and bolt restoration of a 1972 Triumph Spitfire too. Lastly, we also have a 2 year old German Shepard who we enjoy walking and loves to play ball and visit the office with the other Protolan pooches!”

 

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We are hiring!

If you would like to discuss a career in the exciting world of Food and Drink manufacturing then click here.

Protolan is proud to welcome a new member of the team.

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MDS Graduate, Jordan Huggett joins Protolan for his fourth and final 6-month placement from the MDS Graduate Management Scheme* in a project management role. He attended Loughborough University and completed a Masters Degree in Chemical Engineering.

He said…

“I’m looking forward to learning how the knowledge gained from my degree is applied in a food manufacturing setting, something I believe is under-taught at University! I am also looking forward to developing my own analytical approach to the projects I am involved in”.

Jordan is our third MDS graduate joining us for the Autumn / Spring season alongside James and Tea who will be continuing in their roles. This is the first time Protolan sees three graduates from MDS join at once and is a sign of our ongoing growth of the team and also the great ongoing relationship we have with MDS and its commitment to building leaders in the food industry.

Welcome to the team!

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*MDS is a partnership of companies that aims to equip young people with the experience, training, and mindset so that they have the confidence and ability to rapidly become senior business leaders within the food industry.  You can read more about MDS here.

To find out more about our Protolan Team click here.