What is your favourite hobby?

I have been dancing since I was 3 and attended classes in Ballet, Tap and Theatre Craft. I also have a passion for Photography and take every opportunity to use my artistic nature in this medium.

What genre of music are you into?

Pop I guess, anything in the Radio One charts. I currently have Paloma Faith’s CD in my car, I love her!

What did you aspire to be as a Child?

I have always wanted to follow my parents footsteps and go into teaching, perhaps with Nursery Children or Secondary School in Art.

Which factory are you based at?

Birmingham, Design & Marketing Department

What is the job title?

Work Experience student from Leeds University, specialising a Degree in Art & Design.

Duties and responsibilities of the job:

During my Work Experience week at Toye & Co with the Design and Marketing team, I did a photography project around both Birmingham and Bedworth factories. In this project I recorded the stages that the products manufactured go through from start to finish. To conclude the process of the Photographs I used Adobe Photoshop to edit my images so they can be used in Toye & Co’s corporate literature.

For how long have you been working for this company?

I was a part of the team as a week’s worth of Work Experience

Which objects and resources do you require most frequently during your job?

My Sony NEX5 Camera which takes some great photos, but I like to take the compliments and Adobe Photoshop for the final editing.

What do you find most interesting about the present job profile?

I think it is amazing that Toye & Co still use machinery in both manufacturing factories that are 200 years old and they can still produce great quality products. Toye & Co make very interesting products to photograph.

What is your favourite hobby?

I like gardening & baking

What genre of music are you into?

I love musical theatre, but like a wide range of music.

What did you aspire to be as a Child?

As a Child I was interested in textiles and was always looking in museums at weaving, knitting and embroiderers. I was always interested in the processes involved with producing a finished garment.

Which factory are you based at?

Bedworth

What is the job title?

Medal Mounter

Duties and responsibilities of the job:

Ensuring the safe keeping of peoples medals, and mounting them accordingly, advising on the order of wear and producing a high level of customer satisfaction.

For how long have you been working for this company?

15 Years.

Tell us about your history at Toye, Kenning & Spencer…

When I first started work at TKS I worked in the military department making music stand banners, drum covers and many other things. I have been medal mounting for 10 years and have seen many rare and valuable medals.

Which objects and resources do you require most frequently during your job?

During the course of a day at work I use many different ribbons, clasps and brooches and a candle to seal the end of the ribbons. (Modern Technology)

What do you find most interesting about the present job profile?

I like talking to the customer and hearing the stories behind their medals. It makes me proud when I return their medals to them because they are pleased with the results and appreciate the high standard of work carried out by people within the company.

What are you working on at the moment?

At the moment we are in the middle of the Queens Diamond Jubilee and are very busy mounting hundreds of medal groups along with ribbon bars and miniature medals. We are also making many display cases to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee.

What is your favourite hobby?

Fishing

What genre of music are you into?

Traditional Pop, 60’s & 70’s. My favourite band are The Kinks.

What did you aspire to be as a Child?

I always wanted to be a Physical Education teacher as a Child, as I was always keen on Sport.

Which Factory are you based at?

Toye, Kenning & Spencer, Bedworth

What is the job title?

Senior Weaving Technician

Duties and responsibilities of the job:

Maintenance, and repairing of machinery.

For how long have you been working for this company?

I was working at Toye, Kenning & Spencer for 14 years, then moved to The Bahamas to make medical fabrics for a company called MINTECH and then came back to Bedworth and I’m now in my 7th year of my second spell at Toye, Kenning & Spencer.

Tell us about your history at Toye, Kenning & Spencer…

I came from J.J Cash (Coventry) where I started out my apprenticeship in Weaving and moved to Toye, Kenning & Spencer to replace a ‘foreman’ that was specialising in Naval Cap Tallies; from there I moved onto become the Senior Weaving Technical Supervisor for the Jacquard Shop and the ribbon needle looms, then I progressed to management level before I moved to The Bahamas. Seven years on, back at Toye, Kenning & Spencer I am in the Senior Weaving Technical Supervisor position again.

Which objects or resources do you require most frequently during your job?

Basic raw materials such as warps and wefts, and technical specifications to set up machines for the ranges of products that Toye, Kenning & Spencer manufacture.

What do you find most interesting about the present job profile?

The variation of jobs. When I worked at JJ Cash, I just worked on labels, but here at Toye, it can vary from military medal ribbon and lace to the latest fashion ribbon for some of the top names on the high street. In my time here, I’m proud to say that I have woven ribbon for all three of The Queen’s Jubilee celebrations - the Silver, Gold and now for her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee.

What are you working on at the moment?

I’m covering in the Watering Department at present. This is where we put the watermark, or moiré pattern onto our ribbons. We’re also busy weaving Queen’s Silver Jubilee, Golden Jubilee and Diamond Jubilee ribbon for medals that are to be re-mounted for Armed Forces members and veterans and also for the MOD.

What is your favourite hobby?

Fishing

What genre of music are you into?

Classical Rock

What did you aspire to be as a Child?

A Jeweller

Which Factory are you based at?

Toye, Kenning & Spencer, Birmingham.

What is the job title?

Stamper

Duties and responsibilities of the job:

Setting and operating of Stamping, Clipping and Piercing Presses. I also work as a Quality Control Inspector of all parts produced.

For how long have you been working for this company?

I’ve been working for Toye, Kenning & Spencer here in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter for 3 years.

Tell us about your history at Toye, Kenning & Spencer…

“I started out at Toye, Kenning and Spencer as an Apprentice Mounter which consisted of making Masonic Lodge jewels, at the time I was 16 and I was here until the age of 21. (But I’m not telling you my age now) After my Apprenticeship finished I went onto start my own company making Cameo Brooches, I have since worked with other companies in the Jewellery Quarter before coming back to Toye, Kenning & Spencer.”

Which objects or resources do you require most frequently during your job?

Micrometer, Vernier, Rule, and a Turnover Gauge.

What do you find most interesting about the present job profile?

The different stamping technics used to produce the medal I’m working on at the moment.

What are you working on at the moment?

We are very busy here at the moment in the Birmingham factory, stamping the 2012 Queens Diamond Jubilee Medals.