Welcome back to another episode of our Employee Spotlight Series!
Here at NanoSUN we have some of the smartest minds working hard to change the world via the power of hydrogen. Our employee spotlight interviews invite you to learn more about our team and their individual roles.
This month we talk to one of the talented members of our engineering team, Ben Jewers, who tells us about his role as Lead Development Engineer. We find out what he’s been working on, his experience at NanoSUN and discover a few fun facts along the way!
Eight months.
When I came across NanoSUN I knew very little about hydrogen as a fuel, so I was intrigued and wanted a new challenge which felt like a good fit. I wanted my career to start contributing positively to some of the climate change related challenges we face globally.
A combination of strategic thinking and reactive problem-solving. Working to pursue improvements whilst ensuring our current projects and products are fully defined.
I often find myself working on multiple projects and problems in any given day, learning a lot from very clever people around me!
Quite early into my time here I was asked to take on a significant role in our Red Diesel Replacement project, following a grant award from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. We are developing the existing Pioneer HRS blueprint for off-road environments and for non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) applications, which will allow us to ensure that our current and future products are just as capable off-road as they are on tarmac.
I’m a relatively new manager in my career and I wasn’t initially sure if it was for me, but I enjoy it and I've been pleased to find here that my lead position allows me to influence decision-making and team strategy. This benefits both our products and our people.
I enjoy trying to support and get the best out of people by giving them the tools and space to do their jobs, whilst learning off colleagues and other leaders around me to build my skills and knowledge. On top of this NanoSUN have supported me in completing my CMI Management and Leadership Apprenticeship, which I’m due to finish in November.
The company mission, vision and culture has been incredibly refreshing and enjoyable to be a part of. From day one I've been welcomed and encouraged to contribute. I also think the new head office we moved into back in the spring is a great place to work. The free coffee and biscuits (not to mention Baking Week) are also very well received.
Team.
We can’t achieve anything here without teamwork, that’s both working well as a team and wanting to help each other out too. We have projects here which have small teams working on them, so finding the best way to work together to be efficient and deliver results is essential. I’ve been really impressed with the team spirit and the sense of belonging here and it’s a good example of how creating a company value has genuinely helped set the culture.
I am intrigued and excited to see how the hydrogen fuel sector will grow and how NanoSUN can continue to position itself within it. I feel like I am settled yet still have more to offer over the coming months and years. I'm particularly looking forward to helping to get Pioneers through testing and then see them go out to our customers.
I’d encourage anyone starting out or considering a move within engineering to think about what they want to achieve and contribute towards in their careers. Engineering can open the doors to so many sectors and areas of interest and is also fortunate enough to be in a position to help find solutions to global issues we face.
NanoSUN is a prime example of working within an exciting area of renewable energy that is only going to increase in demand and capability over the next few years. I think the hydrogen landscape will visibly change year on year and I expect us to play a part in that whilst growing with it.
It’s not normal to come into a company and have multiple people tell you it’s the best job they have ever had! NanoSUN seems to grow significantly year on year and it really feels to me like we are still only at the beginning of realising our potential. I left a secure role with a large corporate engineering company and it did feel a bit risky making the jump, but I'm so glad to have done so for the new experience so far and future opportunities it will bring.
Clive Tyldesley, football commentator for over 25 years. I’d probably settle for any football commentator if pushed though!
That links back to the previous answer, football commentary! More realistically though it could be lorry driving, engineering in motorsport or my latest hobby – campervan converting.
Ambitious. Exciting. Innovative.
Rowan Atkinson. Hopefully not specifically for his haphazard nature!
An in-house bakery and pâtisserie, ideally offering an unlimited supply of calorie free products. Would be good for taking a break plus it would be nice to treat others when they have helped you out or you need a favour!
As well as getting married this year I also decided to take on a campervan conversion project. A lot of reading, watching and tinkering later and ‘Cici’ is starting to take shape.
If you'd like to join our team, check out the various roles we have available.
.webp)
.jpg)
%20(1).jpg)
