Father and son loving life at INEOS
WORKING TOGETHER: Jamie and Gary Garner
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A father and his son at the opposite ends of their careers with INEOS Acetyls have spoken of their pride at working side by side at the global chemicals company.
Analyser specialist Gary Garner, 63, has been based at Saltend Chemicals Park, east of Hull, where INEOS is based, for 47 years.
He is the longest continuous service worker at the Hull site and his career, which started off with BP before INEOS took over in 2021, has seen him travel the world with secondments to other manufacturing plants in countries including India, Malaysia, China and South Korea.
By contrast, analyser technician Jamie Garner, 23, has been with the company almost three years, after it was recommended to him by his dad.
Having recently achieved his Electrical and Electronic Engineering Degree with first class honours – which was funded by INEOS – Jamie is now striving for a career as long and successful as his father’s.
Gary, who started at Saltend on an apprenticeship from school as a 16-year-old in 1977, said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time here.
“The job is so interesting, and it’s different every day. It’s not just the same mundane thing.
“The people are fantastic too. It’s a really good group and there’s a lot of camaraderie. I’ve obviously been here a long time, and I’m still in touch with a lot of people who’ve retired.”
It was Gary who suggested Jamie apply for a role at INEOS Acetyls.
“It’s a great company to work for,” said Jamie. “You need to know a bit of everything, and there’s so much to learn. It might have been overwhelming if I didn’t love it so much!
SIDE BY SIDE: Jamie and Gary at Saltend Chemicals Park
“It’s great because you integrate with different teams. That’s been really fruitful for me to develop as a technician, and it will be as I develop as an engineer over time.”
Gary said he is now getting great satisfaction at being able to watch first hand, and assist, his son’s career development.
“I’m immensely proud of him,” he said. “I know how hard he’s worked to get to where he is, particularly to get his degree.
“He’ll be able to decide which path he wants to take, because the world’s his oyster now.
“He’s seen how I’ve been able to see the world through my job and he can do the same, if that’s what he chooses.”
Gary and Jamie only see each other at work around twice a week, due to their respective roles, but Jamie said it is invaluable to have his father’s support and guidance.
“If there’s any kind of issue, Dad will have seen it before and will know what to do,” he said.
“I don’t get to see too much of him, but I get to see enough of him. It’s great to have that mentorship from him as my senior, and also as my father. He does push me, as he does with the others, and I always have him there.
“It’s really helped me learn.”
The products made by INEOS Acetyls in Hull are key building blocks for a huge range of industries we all rely upon in our everyday lives, including the renewable power, automotive, textile, pharmaceuticals and packaging sectors.