Read about the people that make ASCO tick. Find out what they say about working for ASCO.
Barbara Aldous - UK
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What does your role entail?
I am the Manager for the operation carried out at Marine Base in Great Yarmouth, UK. We have a team to co-ordinate the loading and discharging of both drilling and production vessels with our own resources. I ensure all the revenue is recorded and the costs are controlled. All the work is completed to comply with legislation and the Asco safety message is consistently applied. Safety meetings, procedures, risk assessments, incident investigations and client interface form the basis of my function.
What are the main challenges of your role?
Ensuring staff morale is good and matching costs to revenue without compromising safety.
Tell us about life at ASCO?
Ever changing!!! During my time here the management structure has changed several times, each bringing with it a different style. In Great Yarmouth we are a small team that have been together for quite some time with Senior Managers that all the staff know well. Our business has tremendous swings in activity which challenges all staff within such a small team but the busy periods bring out the best in all the characters working here.
What is your background?
I started working for Wood Group, before they were acquired by ASCO, in the Accounts Department but moved to the Operations Office first to do administration and then as part of the Operations Team working shifts. From this job I slowly moved into the Supervisor’s position and recentlyundertook the position of Manager..
What are your goals?
At my age work goals are not as adventurous as they would be for a younger person. I would hope that I am able to pass on my knowledge and experience in a timely manner and well managed way in order for ASCO to move forward within this ever changing environment.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
My husband and I walk a lot at weekends but only social walking to take in the scenery and drink coffee in pleasant surroundings. I enjoy the theatre but the most satisfying time is spent with my first grandchild, six months old and a little darling. This time puts everything else in life into perspective
What would your colleagues be surprised to learn about you?
I played netball for the county while at school and spent my childhood and teenage years living in pubs both in London and Gorleston.
Lew Gilbert - Canada
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What does your role entail?
The Material Coordinator at ASCO is the single point of contact between the client and the warehouse staff. The coordinator is responsible for the movement and storage of client material purchased for offshore oil projects once it arrives at ASCO. This includes the receiving, shipping and backload of all client material.
The coordinator must maintain a record of all transactions as they relate to the movement of material, provide guidance to warehouse staff and communicate with the client on material issues that are considered a non-conformance.
What are the main challenges of your role?
Meeting client demands within the time constraints required. This often involves moving material on short notice. The challenge is to accommodate the client while following the procedural aspects of material movement as well as maintaining a culture of safety.
Tell us about life at ASCO?
The Mt Pearl branch of ASCO has 10 employees in management roles and another 25 warehouse staff. The environment is fast paced, challenging and rewarding. ASCO promotes a culture of safety for all employees through a number of initiatives such as regular safety meetings, “Tool Box Talks” and safety awards.
ASCO is involved recycling programs as well as the “Waterford River Cleanup”, which is an annual environmental commitment.
We like to barbecue once a month during the summer months and socialise during festive holidays. Staff work well together and morale is high.
What is your background?
I am a graduate of Memorial University and hold a BSc with a major in Computer Science. I have worked in an oil related environment since 2000 and have been in a Material Coordinators role at ASCO since 2004.
What are your goals?
To provide the best service I can to the client on behalf of ASCO while promoting safety both at work and at home.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like to build replicas of old furniture. Sometimes I recycle shipping crates.
What would your colleagues be surprised to learn about you?
I get together with a friend of mine once a week for music practice.
Dan Taylor - Enviroco
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Describe what activities take place in your business unit and what geographical locations it covers.
Our principle activities cover Industrial Cleaning and Hazardous Waste management. We currently have waste transfer and treatment stations in Peterhead, Aberdeen and Gt Yarmouth and have a sales coordination team in Wakefield.
How many personnel are in your business unit?
Approximately 120.
How long have you been with ASCO and what has been your career history?
What are the main successes of your BU to date and what are the challenges facing your team?
Tell us a little about you personally - where you are from, education, family, interests?
I was born in the West of Scotland, in a little town called Strathaven. I was educated initially at Strathaven Academy and Larkhall Academy and latterly, at a college in Dundee. I have a wife, Nancy and two children, Miller and Heather. My interests, not that I get to indulge in them too often are, football (Glasgow Rangers, Hamilton Accies and Deveronvale are the scores that I look out for on a weekend) and golf, where I still harbour an ambition to win every time I tee up ! I also enjoy driving, poker and Scottish Authors, who have a bias towards politics and crime.
Finally, tell us something that your colleagues might be surprised to know about you?
I believe that everything is negotiable, am a practical joker, promote fun in all aspects of business life, where appropriate, and am an aficionado of the "West Wing". I am switched on, from a business perspective, in the development of young talent and those within our business that accept that Enviroco is a service orientated company and not an 8 - 5 job ! In addition and this will make my wife smile, I am neither a DIY expert nor a gardener, however, I can cut the grass !!
Bruce Huggins - Trinidad
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What does your role entail?
I have the overall responsibility for safety of the Trinidad operations.
This includes an assurance role, ensuring the operations are kept within the parameters of ASCO's Integrated Management system and local HSEQ legislation. I have direct responsibility for the health, safety and welfare of our employees and contractors. Establishing what is best practice plays a big part of my role, as well as research.
I always try to keep communicating with people I can learn from resulting in a modern approach to managing health and safety. Keeping myself proactive is key to delivering the preferred result
What are the main challenges of your role?
Cultivating a good safety culture and preventing unsafe behaviour are my main challenges. .It's important to keep yourself on the path that you set and not follow the path of those that may have chosen the `easy way’ to do things otherwise you become part of the problem.. It is very important that you have the support of your peers, I am lucky to have the colleagues that I do, it makes life a whole lot easier.
Tell us about life at ASCO?
ASCO is a great family to be a part of. There are ups and downs, difficult times, but the good thing is that there is always someone to help you back on your feet. Having good leaders and good people is our most powerful asset. To be honest, I can see myself getting old with ASCO.
What is your background?
Prior to joining ASCO, I worked with an offshore fabrication and construction company in Trinidad. Their main activity was the maintenance and repairs of old oil wells and rigs as well as vessel and ship repairs.
What are your goals?
My personal goals are simple; being happy. I am pretty happy right now but the fast pace of life tends to erode the quality of life. My other goal is to be the best father that I can be. I have three kids at the moment, and it’s all about them; they are my happiness.
Work goals; let's just say that I want to be a big part of making ASCO a safe place to work. Of course money plays a role, comfort in my later years is important for my family as is a solid education for my children
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Saltwater fishing, scuba diving and photography are my main interests. I also collect and grow orchids, shhhhh don't tell anyone that.
What would your colleagues be surprised to learn about you?
Probably that I like gardening. I am six foot five, 245 pounds, and one would not see me being interested in gardening, wrestling maybe!
Gordon Porter- Aberdeen
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What does your role entail?
I am a Supervisor in yard operations at Altens base responsible for coordinating the squad in loading material for shipping offshore for clients
What are the main challenges of your role?
Ensuring the safety of my workforce at all times and making sure that the job gets done to a consistently high standard.
Tell us about life at ASCO?
This is my second time with ASCO, the first when they were contracted by Shell a number of years ago. I had been working with Shell for over 20 years when ASCO won the contract to supply them with manpower, at that time we only ever met the Contract Manager for ASCO.
Now that ASCO manages the Aberdeen Atlens Operations base for Shell, this has meant a great change for me and other members of staff - not only in terms of job security but also with the introduction of ASCO's commitment to new training programmes and safety. This has helped create a good relationship between the company and employees.
What is your background?
I've been working on Shell bases for 30 years, in that time I've worked in different departments and positions from pipe inspection to yard supervisor.
What are your goals?
My goals are to help ASCO to achieve a high standard of safety.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
DIY in the house and garden and I play golf and watch football (too old to play!).
What would your colleagues be surprised to learn about you?
There's nothing that would surprise them about me! |
