If you would like to know who is keeping commercial kitchens working or are considering working in this industry, then here is one engineer’s story. Warren Moore is a senior gas engineer and works within the catering and heating industries. He sold women’s lingerie and fixed his own motorcycle as a teenager, and now works as a gas engineer in the catering and heating industries. Warren is based in Essex in the UK.

Spotlight on being a Catering and Gas Engineer

Background

Have you always had an interest in how things work and how to repair them? Can you give examples?
I can remember being sixteen and being fortunate to have a Savings Account policy mature that my parents had paid into from when I was young. With this I rebelled against my parents and purchased my first motocross bike. To be honest, it was this decision, that led me to the person I am today.
I had always been fascinated with motorcycles but neither of my parents approved or wanted me to take part in the sport. It was having this opportunity which meant I learned the value of money and the costs associated with the sport. I couldn’t afford the repairs and upgrades from the money I made selling anything just in date at school and my wages from setting up stalls at Romford market. I realised I couldn’t bear the embarrassment of my parent telling me: “That was a bad idea.” So, I rounded up some tools as and when I needed them and started to repair my own motorbike.
This changed my attitude from not wanting to know, to needing to know how to fix my own motorcycle. I made many mistakes which cost me dearly and probably made the bike worse than it already was.
However, it was these mistakes that showed me the path that if everything is done correctly with a methodical mindset then anything can be accomplished. It’s all about the correct attitude. This is the motivation that gives the correct attitude for being successful.

Early life

Did you help with anything practical when you were a child? Or did you take toys apart? Can you give examples?
I never found the motivation until I started playing with K’Nex as a child. My parents never bought me the completed models that you would see in the stores high up on the shelves or behind the glass doors. But I always found a way to do something that I didn’t know how to do.

Inspiration

Has there been a particular person who has inspired or mentored you?
To be honest I was never inspired by anyone famous or anyone specific. I have always been my own inspiration. As I am an extremely determined individual, once I am in a thought process, 99.9% of the time I make it happen.
When I was younger, I can remember telling my parents that I wanted to be a millionaire by the age of thirty. Being young, I had no idea how to get there or what industry I would go into. However, I realised at the age of thirteen that to make that happen I needed to get a small job if I wanted to be successful and make a good start at it. So, then I did exactly that. I would cycle four miles to work on my push bike at 4 o’clock in the morning whatever the weather, set up stalls and ride to school afterwards and then reverse the process once I finished school. After all, the world is full of too many dreamers and not enough action takers.

Difference between Catering Engineer and Catering and Heating/Gas Engineer

You started your career as a Catering Engineer and then became a Heating Engineer as well. Can you explain the difference?
A catering engineer is in a niche industry, where there are many different skillsets. For example, being Gas Safe qualified and competent in electrical safety, plumbing, maintenance.
Why did you move into heating?
I found with the initial skillsets I had, that adapting them to the knowledge needed for the heating industry would boost my experience and allow me to work for companies where multi trade engineers are required. To find a commercial catering engineer and commercial heating engineer in one basket is a rare find. But it also means that I am in high demand 24/7! Double busy in the warmer seasons, and triple busy in the colder periods.
We all need to eat when we are away from home, so Catering Engineers are vital. Why do you consider this a good career choice?
The industry allows for many skillsets to be practiced and as most of us are aware the industry is evolving year on year. Also, it is worth noting that the UK had suffered from a lack of catering engineers long before Covid had even developed. The industry now requires more people to be trained and for apprentice programmes to be developed and rolled out due to the fall from engineers retiring.

Types of equipment used as a Catering and Gas Engineer

What types of equipment have you worked on so far in your career?
The list is endless. But to name a few among the most recent:
Rational iCombi Pro Combi Oven
Electrolux Skyline Premium Combi Oven range
Hobart Bonnet cooking range.
What is your favourite piece of equipment to repair/service?
Anything that is kept clean where I’m not going to brush past its flank and be covered in grease. But mainly anything that gives me a bit of a challenge and something that keeps me on my toes! But equally I don’t mind a quick in and out for the days I’m feeling depleted.
Which is the most challenging and why?
This would have to be flight dishwashers / conveyor dishwashers which can be found most commonly within blue chip companies. In these places they rely on these being fully functioning 24-7.
Conveyor dishwashers can clean up to 400 dish racks per hour on average. Flight Type Dishwashers are the largest type of commercial dishwashers on the market and are typically best for companies and environments with high traffic volume. On average, flight dishwashers can wash up to 14,000 – 20,000 dishes per hour.

Typical Week as a Senior Gas Engineer

Is there a pattern to the week, or is every week different?
Although the job requirements can change from week to week, I do try to keep a set routine in line with my family requirements. This means that I can keep an even balance of family and work life.
However, I am adaptable to work plans changing and I’m pretty sure after ten years my wife is very used to the on calls, the demand, the long hours and early starts and my mood swings LOL. It always helps to have people in the background that support me and take charge of the day to day running of things. Then it’s a lot easier for me to focus on my career. Like many others, sometimes I find myself at work too much and really want to be at home spending time with the children which can lead to an amount of guilt that some men struggle to talk about.
How much of the time are you on the road?
The difficulties, and not so glamourous, side of being a multi-skilled engineer is the geographical locations in which I am most in demand. Living in the southeast of England, it’s quite common to experience three to four hour drives when on call. Daily I would say around 30-50% driving when on call and this can increase dramatically. Although where possible and I try to keep traveling to a minimum where possible to increase my productivity.
What sort of work do you do during a typical week?
Reactive, quoted, planning projects and commercial planned preventative maintenance.
Do you always work alone or sometimes in a pair?
I do prefer to work alone. However, if paired, I will work where best suited to the task.

Physical fitness

How much is physical fitness important for what you do?
When do engineers have the time to work on physical fitness? ? I do remind myself that sometimes when looking in the mirror that my priorities aren’t those of an egocentric person. However, all is changed when I look at things from a different angle and dim the light. LOL!

Health and Safety as a Senior Gas Engineer

You are working in environments which could be hazardous. How do you stay safe?
Carrying a personal CO alarm (carbon monoxide detector) when entering boiler rooms is important although my practice for this is rare. However I find high volumes of traffic around you is the most common area for accidents to happen and for injury to occur. Checking site specific registers for hazards prior to carrying out any works. Always keeping an eye for potential issues to arise and implementing a control.

Training

What sort of training do you have available to you?
Training can be available to me when and if needed and if the company believes it to be vital or useful for my role. A lot of our qualifications have an expiry where we need to have an update on changes in our industry and then sit a test on the new laws and legislation.
How quickly do you learn a new piece of equipment?
Some equipment can be very complex, although in essence they all work the same way. The flight dishwasher took me a good three to four visits working on them, replacing various parts to fully understand its functionality.
Who do you go to within the company for support or advice?
Depending on whether the issue is catering or heating related, within the catering I am the best man to give advice and resolve issues. However, if the issue is heating related, the company employs experienced engineers who all have their own strong game where you can most commonly resolve the issues. We can’t all know everything, but if we have a team that is tight knitted and a good comms base we can all together resolve anything.

Challenges of the job

What are the challenges of the job?
Each day brings something new, so you’ve really got to have that can do attitude even when you’re working alone. Finding how best to work with yourself, sounds a bit odd but is essential. Digging deep when you need to and getting the job completed. Engineers are not just paid to know, they’re paid to find out. Getting feedback is important.

Positives of the job as a Senior Gas Engineer, Catering/Heating Equipment

What are the positives of your role?
The endless gratitude from customers, rewarded with school sponge cake and custard.
On a more serious note, I enjoy being a professional problem solver and getting paid for doing it. I enjoy the challenges that come with it as it can sometimes get pretty mundane.
Mostly, I like the money! Most people who I work with will agree with me on this. If I’m not in my work clothes with a tool bag on my shoulder, then you’ll find me following instructions from my wife and her never ending “to do” list.
What sort of people are ideal for this work?
Methodical thinkers, the action takers and not the dreamers; the motivated, highly energetic with a can-do attitude. Someone who is wanting to be the best version of themselves and in the process, enlightening others and pushing them to achieve.

Teams

How do you feel part of a team when you are working out in the field for most of the time?
We have regular, bi-weekly check ins with each other. As well we have a WhatsApp group to help each other out when needed. We help each other diagnose problems and give general advice or if other engineers need their rota covered – we work together.
How do you balance the lonely side of the job?
I’m not going to lie; I enjoy solitude because when I open my front door it is chaos! I have three children, and it is extremely busy in the evenings and at the weekends. So, for me, it’s nice to have a break in the week. Although it can get very lonely at times, my wife and I have daily check ins. I’m in touch with friends, family and I speak to the other engineers when time allows. I have built up a lot of connections in this industry and I’ve made a good name for myself, so I am usually always on the phone catching up with ex-employees. Sometimes it’s actually harder to catch a break if I’m honest!

Conclusion to working as a Senior Gas Engineer, Catering/Heating Equipment

To finish off, I think it’s important to never become too comfortable or complacent and you should always be willing and determined to evolve. My experience that I have hasn’t come from sitting back people watching from the sunny window of a test centre. I believe this path was set out in its weird and wonderful way, the most important part of where I am today came from determination and perseverance. Create your own identity, share your story and help others on their way.

Further reading

Spotlight on being a Field Service Leader, Foodservice Equipment
Spotlight on how to be a Field Service Desk Manager
My 3 Reasons I’m a Catering Equipment Service Engineer Now

Worth Sharing!