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Job Role: Sensory Analyst
Richard works for Reckitt Benckiser at their Hull premises. Reckitt Benckiser are a global company with operations all over the world. Products include household names such as Mr Sheen furniture polish and Lemsip.
Richard's job role is Sensory Analyst. His work involves a lot of chemistry and maths and much of his time is spent in the laboratory. It is his job to ensure that any product does what it says it will do so that if a product claims it will get rid of bad smells, Richard has to test it to make sure it will do just that.
His typical day involves performance testing of products, for example Mr Sheen polish; does it give the glossy finish that the consumer (customer) expects?
3 technicians work with Richard under his supervision. Richard reports to the Sensory Manager, who in turn reports to the Research & Development (R&D) Manager.
Richard enjoys his job as each day involves different work tasks and new challenges. His work brings him into contact with other chemists at Reckitts and consumers (the people who buy Reckitt's products) so he has to be able to work with a variety of different people.
Richard explains: "My job involves a lot of team working. I work closely with the 3 technicians and this requires constant communication. But there is also a great degree of independence and we have to be able to work very much on our own when required".
Richard's working day is 9-5 but many of his colleagues on site in Hull have different working patterns, for example the manufacturing side of the business works a continuous 24 hour cycle, so Richard understands the need to be flexible in how he carries out his work.
His daily routine does not require much travel off site unless there is a need to go out for consumer testing.
Richard does not drive but as Reckitt Benckiser are located very close to the centre of Hull, he does not have any trouble getting to work by public transport.
Richard went from school to 6th form college where he studied A level Chemistry (his favourite subject), Maths (his strongest subject), Business Studies and Archaeology. He went on to study Chemistry at the University of York, deciding if he was going to study for another 3 years it better be a subject he enjoyed!
From university he went to work for Reckitt Benckiser as a Junior Technician before being promoted to Chemist. He has since progressed into the role he now has within the company.
Richard says: "This isn’t necessarily the job I always wanted but only because I never really knew about this sort of job. It was only when I started at Reckitts and started working in the lab that I realised the many different jobs you can take chemistry into and when this opportunity came up, this was the one for me”.
