The Post: Technical and Innovation Manager, White’s Oats
The Post Holder: Sharon Leathem
An interest in the food industry has guided Sharon Leathem throughout her career.
Give a brief outline of your career to date
I have always been involved in the food industry in one way or another. I got my first job working part-time in a restaurant while still at school. I continued to work part-time while at college before moving into butchery and then into the food manufacturing industry in meat and poultry. I joined White’s as a Quality Technician in 2010 and was then promoted to Technical and Quality Manager. More recently I was appointed Technical and Innovation Manager.
What was your favourite subject at school?
My favourite subjects at school were Maths, and Science because I always enjoyed problem solving as well as discovering new innovations.
Did you go on to further/higher education? If so, what did you study and where?
Yes, I attended Loughry College to study Food Technology. I learnt about everything from compliance to best practice in food manufacturing.
How did you get into your area of work?
As part of my degree I completed my placement year at a manufacturing site, working as part of the Quality Team. I really enjoyed it and knew that is the area I wanted to get into once I had graduated. On leaving College I worked my way up through various Technical and Quality roles before moving into my current job as Technical and Innovation Manager at White’s.
Is this what you always wanted to do?
Yes, every job I have ever had throughout my career has been linked to the food industry and I have always had a particular interest in the technical and quality function side of the industry. I enjoy all aspects of my job, I am a people person and enjoy communicating daily with staff and customers but I especially enjoy leading continuous product improvements throughout the business.
Were there any essential qualifications or experience needed?
Yes, a degree in Food Technology is essential and some form of on the ground experience is also helpful.
What are the main personal skills your job requires?
In this role you need a number of skills. You need to be a good communicator – I work a lot with customers and coaching and mentoring members of staff and communication is key. You also need to be organised, good at problem solving and efficient at time management. A good eye for detail is also required.
What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?
Probably the best aspect of my job are the regulatory and customer audits. It is a good exercise in teamwork, with several likeminded people coming together to achieve a common goal, I even enjoy the buzz from the day of the audit itself! It is always a good indication of how the current system is performing, as well as providing any recommendations for improvement. The overall audit result is a recognition of all the hard work and effort that goes into managing and running a Quality Management system throughout the business.
Why is what you do important?
Food Safety is a number one priority; ensuring a product is safe, legal and in line with customer expectations. Providing access to a sufficient amount of safe and nutritious food is key to sustaining life and promoting good health.
What does a typical day entail?
On a typical day I am woken early by my two young children. I try to start the day with a healthy breakfast, usually a bowl of White’s porridge and a cuppa. Once in work my day can vary according to what is in my diary but usually involves catching up with teams on various projects. I am always looking at ways we can improve the business, through business development or creation of new products. A healthy dinner is usually prepared the night before, which makes dinner time a lot easier and means I get to spend extra time with my girls before bed. Once I get the children to bed I like to go for a brisk walk or catch up on a book or a podcast to wind down myself.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you like to do?
I would be a Consultant/Auditor for the Food Manufacturing Industry.
And finally, what’s the key to any successful job search?
Working in a job that you enjoy and are interested in is most important. When looking for a job look at the business itself; look at its culture and how it treats its staff – will there be an opportunity for personal and professional growth and development? It is important to find a business that really values its employees and wants to bring out the best in them.
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