Spotlight On: Ysabel Talbot, Lead Production Coordinator

Ysabel Talbot, Lead Production Cooridinator (Electrics/Hyrdaulics) at Terberg Matec UK

1. Hi Ysabel, thanks so much for taking the time to speak with me today. Could you tell us how long you’ve been at Terberg Matec UK and what your role is? ? 

I’ve been working at Terberg Matec UK for just over two years now, and I am currently the Lead Production Coordinator for electrics and hydraulics based at our Worksop site.  .  

2. How would you describe your role in three words? 

If I can stretch to four instead, I’d describe my role as challenging, varied, and a learning curve. 

3. What are some of your key responsibilities? 

I oversee the biggest team at Worksop, which means every one of our specialist recycling trucks comes through us. This works in two halves, with the first half responsible for actually assembling the different parts of the vehicle, and the second conducting various tests to ensure the vehicle is working as it should. That can include everything from checking pressure to testing our many different safety features. We’re an incredibly busy department, so a large part of my job involves prioritising workload and making sure everyone has what they need to do their job as effectively as possible. I also act as the main communicator between our teams to understand if there are any problems or concerns that need to be addressed.     

4. Describe a typical day in the life of a Lead Production Coordinator.

Typically, I tend to start the day with an initial staff meeting to openly discuss and highlight any challenges, which I then take to our wider team to address. I spend a lot of my time ensuring we’re giving the right people the tasks best suited to their skillsets, and seeing that each of our vehicles is being worked through the correct processes to get the best possible result.  

5. What did you do before joining Terberg Matec UK?  

I’ve actually had a very varied career before Terberg Matec UK that had absolutely nothing to do with what I do now, so it’s been a steep learning curve for me! My first job was with an engineering company working as a Business Account Manager and linguist. I’m fluent in both French and Spanish, so this was a natural step for me. Following this, I also spent two years as a languages teacher for both secondary and primary students but quickly decided it was not for me. I moved on from this to a Client Relationship Manager role at a finance company before eventually ending up back at the engineering firm I’d started at as a Production Manager. From here, I saw the opportunity come up at Terberg Matec UK for my current role and was instantly excited by the challenge it presented for my career. 

6. Why did you decide to join Terberg Matec UK and what makes you want to stay? 

As Terberg Matec UK is part of Dennis Eagle, one of the leading refuse collection vehicle manufacturers in the world, it was an exciting prospect to be joining a big global, and growing, company. I really admired the business’ focus on driving both better safety and environmental standards for operators, and honestly the role also meant adding a new string to my bow and the opportunity to continue my professional growth, as I knew nothing about electrics and hydraulics at the time.  

7. What is your favourite thing about working at Terberg Matec UK?   

The business is so accommodating when it comes to learning and development. It’s allowed me not only to build on my existing skills and experience but also expand my knowledge into other areas. I’ve also learned a lot about myself and my resilience, particularly as a woman coming into what is still a largely male-dominated industry. The people I work with are truly fantastic – a very supportive team all round.   

8. What is your proudest achievement so far?  

I’m really proud of how much I’ve learned and grown in this role during the two years I’ve been with the business. Coming into the role without the technical knowledge and working under the pressure of such a critical position has definitely been a challenge, but one I have loved conquering and thrived at.    

9. Final question: who are you outside of work? 

Firstly, I’m a wife and a mum, so spend a lot of quality time with my family whenever I can. We tend to travel abroad often, or go away for the weekend in the UK, preferably when the weather is at its best! I share a passion for riding, showjumping, and training horses with my daughter, which also takes up a lot of my time. Aside from horses, I have a real menagerie of animals to look after – a grand total of seven!