Paul McKenna
Introducing Paul, our Workshop Supervisor! We asked Paul a few questions to get to know more about his role at CAN and what is on his bucket list!
What does a typical workday look like for you?
I don’t really have a typical workday because of the nature of my role. It varies depending on the type and stage of the projects and activities. But, all work days start with tea, I don’t function well without it.
I can be working at Twyford in my office sorting paperwork of various types. Typically, planning workshop and staff allocation; planning of more complex tasks and preparation for installs, working on-site is a completely different kettle of fish. My start time can be anywhere from 6am onwards. If I am driving to a site, or travelling abroad, it can be much earlier. I usually aim to arrive on site about 7am. Clearing security is the first job of the day. I then meet with the client and try to iron out any issues that have arisen. I brief the team and then we get to work.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt from your career so far?
Good judgment comes from experience, and most of that comes from bad judgement.
What is your proudest professional achievement to date?
It will always be getting an apprentice through their time and watching them qualify as a professional. Then hopefully, watching them develop their skills and make use of all they have been taught, whilst integrating the use of new technologies into their arsenal of knowledge.
What is on your bucket list?
That’s a good question. Where do I start?
I want to learn to fly and also free fall parachute. They have always been topped my list, but there are a few others:
- See more of the world.
- Fire a Bofors gun.
- Take my grandson to watch Arsenal
- Own an Art Deco “White house”
If you could have dinner with one historical figure, who would it be and why?
There are so many historical figures that intrigue me for various reasons. King Richard III, what happened to the princes in the tower? Barnes Wallis, Tessla, Wolfe Tone to name but a few.
But the one person that I would love to have dinner with would be Leonardo DaVinci. His ideas and principles of engineering are incredible. The practical application of design is amazing. Some are far fetched for the time, but visionary for future development. Even simple machines like his mechanical marching drum are works of art in themselves.
I would like to get a feeling for the man and how his mind worked. What drove him along the path of discovery/innovation? What obstacles he faced and overcame. How did he research his chosen subjects? Did he draw on more ancient knowledge that we are unaware of today? It would be a case of too many questions, not enough time.
Interested in working for CAN? Check out our latest vacancies here: Vacancies – Cyclife Aquila Nuclear | EDF Group
