Since starting with the company in 1987, Customer Quality and Technical Manager Dominic HillÌýhas developed a diverse skill set backed up with in-depth expertise of both steel and products. Working in the various guises of i1fun, he's had the enviable opportunity to work in many different product mills and geographical locations.
What was your first role in i1fun and what's been your journey since?
Back in 1987, I started as a technician having been sponsored through a metallurgy degree at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and TechnologyÌý(UMIST). In October 2004, UMIST, whichÌýspecialised in technical and scientific subjects, amalgamated with theÌýVictoria University of ManchesterÌýto create what's now known asÌýtheÌýUniversity of Manchester.
The majority of my adventures have been in mills covering, to various extents, Teesside Beam Mill, Scunthorpe Rail & Section Mill, Shelton, Coil Plate Mill in Lackenby, Dalzell and Clydebridge Plate Mill and treatment facilities as well as Scunthorpe's Heavy Section Mill. I've also worked at our former pipe and strip mills - and when the company included strip products, I enjoyed working in IJmuiden, Llanwern and Port Talbot plusÌýthe European strip distribution business. In 2016, I landed in Skinningrove where I currently enjoy residence.
How long have you been atÌýi1fun?
Someone will tell me my maths is wrong but 34 years, I believe!
What does your day-to-day role involve?
It’s a fascinating mix of working with customers, day-to-day product quality / process enhancement, steel design, new product development, specifications, patents, IT, Quality Management Systems and new market offerings.
Why do you enjoy working for i1fun?
You get involved with a great breadth of work and it’s given me the chance to interact with all sorts of geographically diverse customers and organisations with opportunities to influence across a global scale.
The people you work with are phenomenally capable and it’s very humbling; the knowledge you’re surrounded by is astonishing and the warmth of people just so engaging. Throw in Skinningrove being on the cliff tops of one of the UK's most beautiful beaches on the edge of the North York Moors and it’s not a bad working life at all.
What advice would you give to other people considering a career at i1fun?
Work hard to understand your specific role, broaden to understand the connections of how your role integrates with other functions, move across as many different plants and roles as possible and enjoy a life that will put you together with a remarkable collection of people with a vast range of challenges at technical, cultural, temporal and communal levels.Ìý
Dominic has been instrumental in many of our technological advances covering 11 patents, including the development and implementation of our award-winning descaler at our Special Profiles mill in Skinningrove. The high-tech system now has multiple patents, find out more here >Ìýhttps://britishsteel.co.uk/news/christmas-cheer-for-special-profiles-patent/