What is your role and what does a normal day look like for you?
I work within the New Product Development team as a Food Technologist. My role involves working on the development of both new and existing products alongside process improvement projects. In the delivery of these projects it is important to work very closely with other departments in the business such as the production, technical and marketing teams.
So far in Dale Farm I have been involved in various products, whether it be custard, spreads or cheese, which is now my current focus – I think this makes it even more fun, rewarding and challenging at the same time! My job involves creating recipes, trialing new ingredients, coordinating factory trials and learning the production processes at each site.
What do you enjoy most about your role at Dale Farm?
I enjoy the variety my job has to offer and the opportunities provided to always better yourself personally and professionally, whether that be taking part in different training courses or travelling to trade shows and other events. In saying that, all of this can only be made possible with the supportive people and culture that we have in Dale Farm and I have made some great friends and colleagues along the way!
How did you get to where you are today?
Back in 2018 I graduated from Ulster University with a degree in Food and Nutrition and I joined the Dale Farm graduate programme soon after this. I started working in the NPD team and have been here ever since! Over the past 5 years I have learnt that through continuous development, exposure and learning of all the different sites and production processes, I have been able to grow as a person and build on my skillset as a Food Technologist. Most importantly, in stepping away from my comfort zone I have noticed the biggest change and I have done things I thought I could never do!