CAREER PROFILE CLOTHING ALTERATION HAND - Skillset

A laundry maintenance
engineer is responsible for
ensuring machinery and
equipment at the laundry
plant runs efficiently
and smoothly. They must
have expert knowledge
in mechanical, electrical,
hydraulic, pneumatic and
computerised systems.
What does a laundry
maintenance engineer do
Their work revolves around ensuring
machinery for washing and drying
clothes for a commercial laundry is
working efficiently and effectively.
They are also responsible for testing
the water used by washing machines
to make sure it is balanced correctly
for clothes washing.
Senior engineers and managers will
also be involved with administration
work to ensure systems and
procedures are adhered to.
The salary of a laundry
maintenance engineer
A laundry maintenance engineer
could expect to be paid around
£16,000 per year as an apprentice
engineer, with experience this can
rise to £21,000. Supervisors will
earn around £18,000 to £25,000.
Managers could earn up to £30,000
per year or more.
Hours and working environment
Laundry maintenance engineers
usually work around 39 hours a
week. Although weekend work is
not common in a commercial
laundry, you will be required to
be ‘on-call’ occasionally in case
of emergency breakdowns.
Laundry maintenance engineers
working environment is on the plant
floor and will be working closely
with machinery so it can be noisy.
Due to working with water and
steam it can be hot.
Skills and interests
You will need to be multi-skilled
with electrical and mechanical
qualifications and knowledge.
A good understanding of maths
and science is also essential.
* an interest in machinery
and fixing equipment
*
*
to be logical, practical
and adaptable
to be self-motivated to work
alone or as part of a team
* physically fit
Entry into a career in laundry
maintenance engineering
You will need some qualifications
to become an engineer and passes
in maths and science GCSE are a
must. Work-based apprenticeships
are a common route for many
entering engineering. For more
information on apprenticeships,
visit the apprenticeship website:
www.apprenticeships.org.uk.
The Institution of Engineering and
Technology website has details
of UK colleges offering
engineering courses.
Further training to develop
a career in laundry
maintenance engineering
As technology changes and becomes
more efficient, many engineers find
they need to do short courses to keep
their skills and knowledge up to date.
Many businesses will assist with this
element of further training and it will
often be tailored to suit the business
you work for.
Opportunities in the field of a
laundry maintenance engineer
Once you have an engineering
qualification you can move into
many sectors not just laundry and
dry cleaning. There are opportunities
to develop your skills and training
and you can work your way up to
supervisor or managerial levels in
some companies.
Case study
Andy Pitts has worked at
Johnson Apparelmaster
for almost two years
and has recently been
promoted to senior
maintenance engineer at
the commercial laundry
based in Hull.
Andy worked while studying
for his marine engineering
apprenticeship. This led him
to do engineering work in
many areas including boiler
maintenance and laundry.
Andy says “To become a
maintenance engineer you
need to be multi-skilled with
electrical and mechanical
training. You need to be
able to think problems
through logically and have
a good head for numbers.
Being physically fit is also
an advantage.”
Andy’s job is not just about
working with hand tools,
many of the machines are
computerised so expertise
in electronics and electrics
are essential. There is also
a very scientific element
involved to make the water
soft for washing clothes.
Andy says “My work is
really varied as every
problem is different so
it makes it interesting.
Technology is always
changing so I am always
learning something new.”
For more information visit
www.skillfast-uk.org/generationf