Adrian Duffen

The Utilities Warehouse Discount Club, is dedicated to providing discounted services to both domestic and business customers. We offer gas, electric, Telephone (both fixed and mobile), 0800 numbers, Broadband, backed up files service etc. We are part of Telecom Plus a London Stockmarket listed PLC.

The utilities warehouse started up 9 years ago. Initially only offering cheaper phone calls. Now we have several competitive services. All services taken out by a customer are put on one simple to understand bill. Although a business that has more than one premises can decide to have one bill for all or one for each.

Utilities Warehouse is a "network marketing" company. This is so that the money saved on marketing can be passed onto the customer.

Contact me to find out more. UK customers only at this time.

Jaguar Cars Ltd, build Jaguars!! I started on the 4th of January 1999. This was in the Trim and Final department. I worked on th Instrument Panel Assembly line in B Block. During the year, I became a Safety Rep and a "floater". This is a position where you have to cover all sorts of other jobs, on the plant! Sometimes these are easy assignments and others real pains Literally!!! (using different muscles to what you are used to). After my 1st year there I had the opportunity to go on a Kaizen Team. (I took it). This was supposed to be only for three months. I was on it for 15! Along the way we ended up doing Six Sigma work too. Due to a reorganisation of which departments different Superintendents were in charge of, I had the opportunity to opt to work in D Block when I finished my time on the Kaizen / Six Sigma Team. I decided to move into D Block, to work on the S Type proper. I spent about 15 months on Line 4. In 2003 I applied for two jobs, one was as a Group Leader in C Block on the "new all aluminium" XJ. Also applied for the position of "Tool room Inspector". I got the job of group leader. I did my two weeks training and started as a group leader in C Block. The very week I started as a group leader, the other job was also offered to me. As this is a Grade One job. I.e the top Hourly grade job, I took it. As it turned out at the interview stage, it was actually a CMM measuring position as opposed to an actual Tool room Inspector. Though at the time we were under the Tool room. The equipment we use is the Faro Gold Arm and the software is mostly Cam2 Automotive, plus Cam2 Measure. This position has morphed into the Dimensional Investigator mentioned as position above. We are now under the LK Inspection department now.

Dillons Newsagents, are as the name implies, a Newsagents. I responded to a newspaper advertisement. I was taken on as a trainee. This was salaried though it was self employed when you got your own shop. I worked there from November 1997 to January 1998. The manager who's shop I trained in was very pleased with me and said I was ready to run a shop. The regional manager decided that as I had a young daughter at the time just a few months old, I would get over tired with the long hours, and as such they released me. Though they did say that once my daughter was older I could re-apply.

I was a Private hire driver from, January 1992 to November 1997.
I worked for two firms during this time, both listed above. I started at and finished at Falcon Cars in Birmingham City Centre, and in the middle worked at a more local firm in Stechford. I entered this industry about a year before it really died a death, earnings wise. Therefore the 1st year I earned a reasonable amount, but then the money got less and less, after expenses. Though I did enjoy my time doing this work as I met and got to know a lot of people that I would not have knnown any other way. For instance I could have a police car come down to our office and ask us to tale a down and out to a local night shelter, from there I could pick up a Solicitor and his wife in the there glad rags and take them to the theatre or fancy restaurant. After this I could pick up a wheel chair passenger, then a prostitute, to take her to the red light district, or to a client. Then a young mother and her kids, a local celebrity or sportsman etc. Though some of the parcel runs to other cities/ towns were always nice.

I started at Lucas Aerospace as an Manufacturing Apprentice, from 1982 till 1986. Then I got a position as an inspector in Assy and Test. My duties were to visually inspect the parts prior to build and test. To raise the paperwork for the unit, to check all the relevant stamps were done, the correct measurements filled in on the test paperwork, send parts off for crack detection after the initial test, or visual check, depending on the requirement. Then make sure the unit was ready and correct for shipment to the customer. I also spent time as the gauge inspector, checking all the pressure, flow and temperature gauges and fuel cleanliness.