20Mar, 2026
    From Apprentice to Maintenance Manager: Oli’s Story

    Oliver Fenn joined Binder in March 2015 with no experience and a lot to learn. Ten years later, he is our Maintenance Manager. We asked him to look back on the journey.

    How did you first come to join Binder?

    “I had heard through word of mouth that Binder was a good, family-run company with a strong reputation and a supportive culture. It felt like the right place to start my career.”

    Oli came in as an apprentice. His early days were spent shadowing senior engineers, particularly Keith Bates, who guided him through everything with patience and genuine care. He also spent time in stores, getting to grips with stock control and learning how the business operated from the ground up.

    “Those early days were all about getting stuck in, watching how the team worked, and doing whatever was needed to support.”

    What were the early challenges?

    One of the biggest was simply being taken seriously. Moving from being seen as the new apprentice to being recognised as a capable member of the team takes time. Oli met that challenge the straightforward way: consistent effort and a strong work ethic, day after day.

    “As I grew in the role, I had to actively change colleagues’ perceptions and prove myself through my work, attitude, and consistency.”

    How did your role develop over time?

    From apprentice, Oli progressed to engineer, eventually reaching the point of lone-working, which he describes as a proud milestone. He then moved into the office as a scheduler, then supervising scheduler, and eventually into his current role as Maintenance Manager.

    Each stage brought new responsibilities and new skills to develop. Learning to stay calm under pressure was one of the most important.

    “Peter Elmslie was my line manager for ten years. He trusted me and gave me opportunities to show what I could do. That made a real difference.”

    The progression was gradual and built on solid foundations. By the time Oli stepped into management, he had the experience and confidence to lead. He was running the maintenance team before he turned 30.

    “The challenges built up gradually through each role, which made stepping into management feel like the natural next step.”

    Who helped you get there?

    Oli is quick to credit the people around him. Keith Bates shaped him as an engineer in those early years. Peter Elmslie gave him the trust and opportunity to grow. Shaun Prendergast backed him from the very beginning, and Richard Binder has been patient and nurturing throughout.

    “With Shaun’s experience, if I can learn even half of what he knows, I will do well. And Richard has played a huge part in helping me get to where I am today.”

    What do you enjoy most about working at Binder now?

    “The people. Being able to help them, support them, and make a difference to their day-to-day work is genuinely rewarding. As I have gotten older, I have realised how important it is to enjoy who you work with.”

    “Binder has that family feel where you are never just a number.”

    What would you say to someone starting their career at Binder?

    “Always be willing to get stuck in. If you come with a strong work ethic, you will do well here.”

    It is simple advice. But looking at where Oli started and where he is now, it is hard to argue with it.

    Want to know more about apprenticeships at Binder?

    Oli is one of a number of people who have built their careers here through our apprenticeship programme. To find out more about the opportunities we offer and our commitment to growing local talent, read our blog: How Binder Builds Careers from the Ground Up.

    Or call us on 01473 830582 to have a conversation about starting your career with Binder.

    9Mar, 2026
    How Binder builds careers from the ground up

    As a business, we have grown steadily over the years. We now have 122 employees, around 75 of whom live in the Ipswich area. That is not something we think about as a statistic. It is something we are genuinely proud of.

    The way we have grown reflects a straightforward belief: the best people are often the ones you invest in from the beginning. Apprenticeships have been a central part of how we do that.

    A long-standing commitment to apprenticeships

    Over the years, a number of people have come through Binder as apprentices and gone on to build long, meaningful careers here. Previous apprentices include James Thatcher, Ryan Hunn, Joel Lomax, Kyle Burrows, and Oliver Fenn, whose story we have written about separately.

    Right now, we have four apprentices working across the business: Josh Macfarlane, Danny Mayes, Charlie Cobb, and Evan Lockwood. Each of them is at an early stage of what we hope will be a long career with us.

    “If you come with a strong work ethic, you will do well here.” – Oliver Fenn, Maintenance Manager

    What an apprenticeship at Binder looks like

    We are a wastewater solutions business working across East Anglia. That means our apprentices are learning practical, hands-on skills in a specialist field, supported by experienced engineers and a team that takes development seriously.

    Day to day, an apprentice at Binder will work alongside senior members of the team, build their technical knowledge in the field, and gradually take on more responsibility as their confidence grows. We do not throw people in at the deep end. We build people up steadily, at a pace that makes sense.

    Mentoring is informal but consistent. Our people look out for each other. That is just how the business works.

    Why the local community matters to us

    With around 75 of our 122 employees based in the Ipswich area, Binder is genuinely embedded in the community it serves. When we take on an apprentice, we are not just filling a role. We are often giving someone local their first real step into a career, and investing in them for the long term.

    That connection to the local area has stayed important to us as we have grown. We are not a national employer with no roots. We know the people who work here, and we know the communities we operate in.

    A real example of what is possible

    Oliver Fenn joined us as an apprentice in 2015. He had no experience and a lot to learn. Ten years on, he is our Maintenance Manager, leading a team and playing a central role in how the business operates.

    His journey took him through engineering, lone-working, scheduling, and supervision before he stepped into management before the age of 30. It was not fast-tracked. It was built steadily, with the right support at every stage.

    “Binder has that family feel where you are never just a number.” – Oliver Fenn

    You can read Oli’s story in full in our blog: From Apprentice to Maintenance Manager: Oli’s Story.

    Thinking about an apprenticeship with Binder?

    If you are at the start of your career and looking for somewhere that will invest in you properly, we would be glad to hear from you.

    We are not looking for perfection on day one. We are looking for the right attitude and a willingness to work hard and learn. The rest, as Oli’s career shows, tends to follow.

    Call us on 01473 830582 or get in touch through our website to find out more about apprenticeship opportunities at Binder.