Next in the series of video portraits celebrating the people behind the UK’s vibrant wine and spirits sector, we meet Lee Dixon, Head of Manufacturing at Kingsland Drinks.

Working at the historic Manchester plant established in 1895, Lee oversees the packing for brand owners as well as the supply of the UK’s major retailers with branded and own-label wines and spirits. Lee started his Kingsland journey after leaving the motoring sector and securing a four year engineering apprenticeship.

He soon found a mentor within the team who encouraged him to apply for the job as a Shift Manager. The step up meant less time with a spanner in his hand and broadened his horizons. A change in operations saw an amalgamation into one manufacturing team, and his job changed from Engineering Shift Manager to Manufacturing Shift Manager, giving him greater responsibilities and expanding his knowledge of the business.

Lee starts his day with a factory tour doing a quality check and reviewing health and safety procedures, which is followed by a morning meeting with all departments. This exposure to all parts of the business gives him an invaluable overview and insight to the running of one of the UK’s largest bottling plants.

He says his motivation lies in coming to work to make a difference. Working at Kingsland, Lee says, has allowed him to keep growing and continue learning about the wider sector. His job means he gets to work closely with the customer to work out a plan to deliver the product and then make it efficient and marketable. Lee describes seeing the finished product on the shelf and selling well is extremely rewarding.

To find out more about Lee’s work at Kingsland listen to his interview by clicking here.