Dan Cooper: SCS HS2 Values Award Winner - Passionate about Excellence

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We are delighted that Dan Cooper, who has been Operating for Lynch, has been recognised by SCS, our customer, and has won the Passionate about Excellence Values Award. This award is a testament to Dan’s hard work and ongoing dedication to the project. Dan has been working on HS2 on a Roller, and as part of our ongoing innovations, he has been trialling the very latest Machine Control technology, going above and beyond to get it right.

Dan spoke with Merrill Lynch, Director, about his Award and his work on the project so far.

Merrill Lynch: Well done, Dan! Winning this Award is a fantastic achievement. We would love to speak to you about how you won it. What do you think you did right to be recognised for this Award?

Dan Cooper: For me, it was important that I did the best I could do, and I did this every day. I will always try to be as helpful as I can around site so that we get the job done. Recently, I’ve been operating a Roller with the new GPS Machine Control system, and so I really wanted to make sure I got it right. I used my own time to get stuck in with the tool and learn my way around it. I also helped explain how it works around the site, so that we could make the best use of it.

I’ll try my best to help anyone on site, other Operators, the guys on the ground, even the cleaners. It makes no difference to me but it’s what is best for the site and helps us all to get it right.

ML: Getting it ‘Right First Time’ is important to us. How does that relate to you?

DC: Right First Time is so important to me. I am from a military background anyway, so everything I do, I do right. There’s no point in rushing a job, or not giving it your all. When I’m working, I pay close attention to things around me, and I notice the details.

I’m passionate about getting it right first time because I want to make sure that I’m not going to have to do anything again.

ML: It’s great to hear how passionate you are, especially after winning SCS’s ‘Passionate about Excellence’ award. Can you tell me what passion means to you?

DC: I am passionate about my work, and I think that that’s what it boils down it. It’s just loving your job. I can’t wait to get out of bed in the morning because I love what I do, and I think having that motivates me. If you aren’t passionate about your work, then you aren’t going to be able to really excel.
I want to be the best I can for myself and for the site and it’s exciting to see the end results of all the hard work that the team has put in.

ML: It’s great to hear you talk about teamwork, as we are one team. How does this factor in to how you work?

DC: I have come to realise that if you’re on site together, you are a team. I will help anyone out and if I see you struggling, I will give you a hand. It doesn’t matter who you work for, you just get on with it and work collaboratively for the good of the project. You’re here as a team and you act like a team.

I won the award, but I had the whole team behind me, supporting me. It’s a team game.