Profile
Ella Ray
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About Me:
I live in Lowestoft, Suffolk, and moved here for my job. Originally, I am from the Midlands and I studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Nottingham. I am a Process Engineer and, outside of work, I love to be creative such as painting and baking. I also like reading, watching films and going to the gym.
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At school, I studied Biology, Chemistry, Maths and English. I loved science and maths so decided to go into engineering where I can combine what I enjoyed learning at school and have a job where I can work on important processes to help people and the planet.
I enjoy volunteering and have travelled to the Philippines to teach English and Maths to school children. Travelling is a big passion of mine and I have been very lucky to visit different countries for work and holidays.
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My pronouns are:
She/Her
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My Work:
I am a Process Engineer for Nomad Foods which is a food company which makes brands like BirdsEye, Aunt Bessie’s and GoodFella’s. The products you may recognise are fish fingers and peas! My role looks at new technology and equipment so that products are easier to make, better for the environment and tastier.
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A big part of my job is running tests with new equipment to see if they solve the problem efficiently. Therefore, I have visited equipment across Europe including Italy, Spain and the Netherlands. During these tests, I look to see if the equipment works well and makes a nice product. I also look for environmental factors such as if there is a lot of waste or the equipment uses a lot of energy.
I am in a team which looks at projects for the future. Therefore, I research a lot of technology that is very new and exciting! For example, 3D printing of food and lab grown meat.
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My Typical Day:
I get to work at about 9am and the first thing I do is make a plan of my day. I work on a lot of different projects so need to decide which jobs to do that day. Sometimes I will be doing some experiments in the lab with new equipment and collecting data. Other days, I will be running a test in the factory. I also do a lot of research looking at new technology and have team meetings where we share our ideas. I have lunch with my colleagues and go for a walk into town. I then continue my work and leave the office at 5pm.
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Some days I am at my desk most of the day reading, putting together experiment/test plans and having meetings with my team. Other days, I will be in the factory or in the lab doing more practical work. I work on projects both on my own but also with a team. Sometimes during my job, I visit other countries to run tests or visit factories which is really fun! I really like to be in factories as there is a lot to see and learn. It is very interesting to see how the food we eat is made.
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What I'd do with the prize money:
If I won the prize money, I would like to organise a science activity at a local school. This could be doing some experiments, showing how we make our food and then tasting some products! I would make it really fun and interactive so that everyone can get involved and learn more about food factories.
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Education:
I went to school in Sutton Coldfield where I did my GCSEs and my A levels.
Before university, I did a gap year where I did some volunteering and worked.
For university, I studied Chemical Engineering at University of Nottingham for 4 years.
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Qualifications:
12 GCSEs
4 A levels
Bachelors and Masters in Chemical Engineering
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Work History:
My first job was as a swimming instructor.
During university, I worked as a research assistant in the engineering laboratories performing experiments.
I then worked in a pub and a supermarket.
After finishing university, I got my current job as a process engineer.
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Current Job:
I currently work as a process engineer for a food company called Nomad Foods. I am part of research and development so I look at new ideas for technology and equipment to make our food.
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Employer:
I work for Nomad Foods which is the largest manufacturer of frozen food in Europe. We have factories all across Europe such as in Italy, Germany and Spain. We make products such as Birdseye peas & fish fingers, Aunt Bessie’s Yorkshire puddings and Goodfella’s pizzas.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Friendly, fun & food-obsessed!
What did you want to be after you left school?
I wanted to be a teacher! This is something I still want to do later in my career.
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Only once, for talking too much! I was very passionate about learning so didn't get into trouble much.
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
I would be a marine biologist because I love sea animals.
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Lily Allen
What's your favourite food?
I love Mexican food like burritos and nachos!
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
1) For everyone to always be happy and healthy. 2) To have equal opportunities for everyone across the world. 3) To be able to see all the world and lots of different cultures.
Tell us a joke.
What do you call a pea that falls off your plate? An esca-pea!
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