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Ethan Atkiss is a newly qualified crane operator for Ainscough Crane Hire, based at the Birmingham Depot. His Father, John Atkiss, has worked with the company for 19 years prior, and his experience with Ainscough helped encourage his son to find his passion excelling as a young crane operator. This is his Ainscough story.
My knowledge of cranes begins with my dad. From an early age he’d recount the ins and outs of the jobs he was working on. Of course, growing up, I didn’t know I’d find it so fascinating. When it came to college, I knew I was interested in working with mechanics, I studied it for a while but didn’t really enjoy it. The course wasn’t the practical based education that I’d wanted, so I left in search of a new direction.
After pursuing part-time work for a short while, my dad told me Ainscough had a new trainee operator opening, and that I should apply – but that they were competitive. I have to credit my dad with giving me the push I needed to achieve my goals. I’d also like to think Ainscough saw the hard work my dad had put in, and thought it ran in the family.
I got the position as trainee crane operator, and immediately threw myself into my qualification. I went through Ainscough Lifting Academy to get my NVQ and operator’s licence and it was tricky. However, everyone from the depot to upper management got on board, pushed me, taught me and helped me collect evidence for my qualification.
It was reassuring to know many of my now colleagues had been through the same processes and knew how to help. Having gone through all the tests, I passed my NVQ in January, I’m now a fully-fledged crane operator and I’ve been to some pretty cool jobs in my time here.
What I love about Ainscough is that no two days are the same. I’ll get to the depot in the morning, go through all the safety checks, get my brief and head out to meet the client and rig up the crane. What happens after I leave the depot is incredibly varied. As a football fan, it was amazing to go to Wembley and Anfield to set up the stage for Elton John and Harry Styles (separately, of course).
Away from cranes, I’m an enormous West Bromwich Albion fan, I hold a season ticket there and I’m grateful to get to the Hawthorns as frequently as possible. I also can’t get enough of machinery even when I’m at home, I love tinkering with my car!
After spending a year here, I’m really happy. I find great pride in pulling up to the site with an enormous crane, and it’s such a unique job. I’ve been lucky to get all the support and motivation from my colleagues and family, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds at Ainscough.
