If you’ve been keeping up-to-date with our ‘Meet the Team’ series you’ll know that so far, we’ve interviewed people from all over the company, including a general crewman, a Regional Manager and our Marketing Coordinator - to give you an insight into what goes on behind the scenes here at Gallowglass. This month, we’re sharing a glimpse of the life of Edward Chalmers, who works in our Operations department!
What was your work experience before joining Gallowglass?
Living in Somerset, I ran a fruit and veg company before moving up to London, where I sold my soul to the devil and worked in recruitment. But it didn’t take me long to discover it wasn’t a good fit for me.
How long have you worked for Gallowglass?
It is coming up to two and a half years!
Describe a typical day in your job:
I work in Operations, so it’s my job to crew-up for the following days. Looking at the upcoming jobs, I work out which skills will be required for each one, and plot where and when they’re taking place. Then I find crew who will be able to fulfill all requirements, phone them and ensure their availability. In between that, I deal with our UK event crew’s time off requests and get the ball rolling to put people through different courses – such as fork lift, CSCS card Cherry Picker training.
If your colleagues were to describe you in three words, what would they say?
Efficient
Calm
Hysterical
What’s the most challenging aspect of your day-to-day role?
We work 24/7, so making sure everyone has a sufficient break between shifts is essential, as is ensuring crews have the correct balance of experience for the job they’re working on.
Have you always been interested in working in Operations?
Yes. Finding out how companies operate has always intrigued me.
Have you undertaken any training since joining Gallowglass? If so, what?
I was put through my SPA and CSCS training. This gave me access to the bigger jobs. It allowed me to work in Belgium for a three-week project, which was really interesting.
How has your career progressed during your time at Gallowglass?
When I started at Gallow as a crewman I thought it would be a stop-gap in between jobs, while I worked out what I wanted to do next. But I realized quite quickly that I was enjoying myself. It’s hard, honest work and you get to see parts of London and the wider country that often aren’t accessible to the public. I passed my probation period and was then approached about becoming Duty Manager for the company. This involves being the out-of-office-hours contact. After a year in that role, a full-time position in Operations opened-up - and here I am today!
Do you have any hobbies outside of work?
I follow pretty much any sport, in particular Football (North London is white) and rugby. I’m an avid reader as well.
What is your dream job?
Ooh – a couple of options – an RAF pilot, a game-keeper in Africa or one of the presenters of Top Gear.
Is there anything else you’d like to know about the Gallowglass team? Feel free to get in touch via our social media channels and we’ll get back to you!
Don’t forget to take a look at our other interview pieces too:
Meet The Team: Interview with Conor Hourihan - Business Development and Marketing Coordinator
