Shrink wrap jobs – Working at Tufcoat

Building a career in an industry where no two days are the same

Since joining us as a labourer three years ago, Dan has steadily risen through the ranks at Tufcoat, progressing to charge hand and installer, where he worked on some of our significant milestone projects. Now, as a black cap supervisor, Dan ensures our projects are completed on time, liaises with clients and maintains health and safety standards on site.

In this Q&A, we talk to Dan about his career path and experiences working on shrink wrap jobs at Tufcoat.

Tell us about your career journey so far

“I’ve worked across a diverse range of industries over the years, starting in the trades, studying bricklaying and then electrical work in college for two years. This led me to roles in retail at Lidl through to being a technician at CP Nitro, travelling to clubs and pubs to maintain their cellars.

I eventually moved back into construction, working on extensions and landscaping projects. At the time, I was living in Surrey but travelling down to Cornwall every weekend to see my children, which wasn’t easy. That’s when I started looking for work closer to home and came across Tufcoat.”

Tell us what it’s been like working at Tufcoat

“When I first started, I’d seen scaffold wrap on buildings but had never used a heat gun or worked with shrinkable wrap.  Tufcoat provide comprehensive training to the highest industry standards and they invest heavily in ensuring you have all the correct kit to operate safely as a shrink wrapper. We get to shrink-wrap some exciting projects, from helicopters to the Big Ben tower, travelling across the UK, meaning no two days are the same which makes the time fly!

As a supervisor, we’ve recently completed a significant project in Ireland, where I was managing a team installing shrink-wrap inside a multi-storey building. The construction screens provide weather protection so drywalling and interior work can continue. I’m proud of this one because it was a large-scale project where I was constantly liaising with the client, reviewing their drawings and ensuring everything ran smoothly.”

 What’s the biggest challenge you face in your role?

“I pride myself on being hands-on. I’m not a supervisor who sits back watching others work; I’m actively involved in the shrink wrap job. However, I must confess paperwork has never been my strong point but I’ve embraced the challenge to improve as part of my supervisory role.”

 What project stands out so far?

“There are so many! There is always something new: travel to areas of the country I’ve never visited before, meeting new people, new units or structures to shrink-wrap, so every project is a challenge, often completely different to the last.

A project in Grimsby for a steel and oil company does stands out though as I was launched in at the deep end! The charge hand who trained me went on holiday, so I was asked to step into his role with little notice, taking on a team of four shrink wrappers. We successfully completed the shrink-wrap job on time and within budget so that was a big confidence boost.”

What’s great about a career at Tufcoat?

“What sets Tufcoat apart is the mutual respect and support; the company understands that employees have lives outside of work and is very family-focussed.  It’s a friendly, relaxed place to work. There is a strong drive to promote and develop the shrink wrappers skills and career path which makes Tufcoat a leading supplier in the sector.

It’s also the small things that make a big difference. Our accommodation costs are covered when we’re away on a shrink wrap job, our travel time is paid and we’re provided with a daily food allowance.”

Outside of work, what keeps you busy?

“I’m a bit of a workaholic, but when I’m not working, I love spending quality time with my family and friends. I’m a proud father of five so I’m definitely kept busy!”