Lizzy Porter
Electrician/estimator
Aged 25 and married, Lizzy says: "I really wanted to try estimating and got a chance in November 2001 with Mackintosh Highland who I currently work for. I really enjoy this side of the job. It involves pricing jobs, supervising the employees, ordering material and supervising work on a variety of jobs, including housing schemes, and council and industrial contracts.
"I started out originally wanting to be a joiner but I'm glad I got talked out of it."
"My main passion in life is following my favourite football team, Inverness Caley Thistle. Every game is always entertaining with goals almost guaranteed. My other passion is the grand prix, Michael Schumacher and Ferrari are my favourites."
Lizzy's work diary
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Arrive at work. Check on answer phone. Liz makes a note of any calls that may need attention. |
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Attends to jobs that need attention. Liz speaks to an electrician and allocates him some work involving rectifying faulty switches that have led to house lights failing. |
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Price up a job. Liz goes to a local firm to measure up for costing a new lighting installation. This means speaking to the owner and getting a full picture of what the job entails. She makes some drawings on site and returns to the office. |
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Computer work. Input details into the computer and calls up the estimation system which will work out the bill of quantities. Check with the wholesalers to see if they have the equipment in stock. As it is specified material not generally used there could be a delay of a week or a fortnight. When all the designs are completed and materials needed have been worked out, labour costs are added and an estimate made. |
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Site check. Price a domestic re-wiring job and check the men on site at another contract to see if they have sufficient materials. Need to order some extra equipment for them to finish the job. |
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Testing of jobs. Back at the office, follow up some testing of installations at council houses carried out by electricians who have written the information down and then she transfers it into the computer to print off for their client. |
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Leaves for home. Liz leaves in good time today but some days can be a lot longer. |
Lizzy Porter's career has progressed beyond...
