Meet The Team

Katie Patchett-Field – Training Services Manager

Katie Patchett-Field is our training operations specialist, having been with the business for 4 years, she co-ordinates & delivers high quality health & safety training. Katie has helped the training department grow through her knowledge, organisational skills, & charisma.

Katie said: “It’s a privilege to work in such an important aspect of Smiths Equipment Hire, the knowledge I have gained to be able to better health and safety within our customers’ businesses is a moment that comes with great pride. Having enhanced our professional skills, attitudes, behaviours, training centres and trainers to ensure our customers get the best experience. The objective within our team is to identify the required training needed on certain equipment and sites, and ensure the best training methods are being used to allow for great Health and Safety between organisations as a whole. Since I started with the business 4 years ago, I’ve gained so much more knowledge, priding myself in our high level of customer service. When we introduced the renewal call backs, we found a lot of customers didn’t realise their certificates had expired whilst working on a site. So, now we contact all delegates before they expire so it’s on their radar! Not only that I have been working very closely with IPAF and I now represent as a committee member getting to travel and also build up our relationships with other providers to help benefit our customers!”

Katie’s Fun Fact: When Katie isn’t working hard for the business she spends her time travelling around as much possible following her football team, and ticking off as many football grounds as possible, she even has an app to keep an eye on them and loves to hit a new milestone.

Rebecca Snarr – Training Co-ordinator

Rebecca Snarr is our training co-ordinator, who joined the team over three years ago, she helps to co-ordinate the smooth running of courses, whilst also finding courses out of the ordinary as well as sourcing nationwide courses to help our customers who may be working away. Rebecca’s knowledge is increasing day by day on all things training!

Becky said: “I joined Smiths Equipment Hire in January 2022, working part time as the Training administrator, by March 2023 I was working full time as Training Co-ordinator, Since I started, I have seen the Training department grow and reach unbelieve goals, making sure all our customers are safely trained and have a great experience with Smiths. When I joined, I was helping with certificates, scheduling, and paperwork, I now have depots that I look after alongside having great relationships with our trainers and at the front line of our bookings. I have had the privilege of going to some amazing events across the UK, meeting a variety of people that work in the training industry, I am very excited to see how far Smiths Training can go.”

Becky’s Fun Fact: When I’m not working, I spend most of my time with my son, family and friends which usually involves a few drinks, and early mornings at the gym!

Jackie Curtis – Training Administrator

Jackie Curtis is our training admin, who joined the team over a year ago, she helps to co-ordinate the smooth running of courses, inputting of paperwork and ensuring the customers have their certificates in a timely manner.

Jackie said: “I joined the company just over a year ago and I am very proud to be a part of a team that is increasing people’s awareness of the need for training.  Since starting I have taken on more roles in addition to inputting of courses. I now take bookings, I deal with the health & safety forms, highlighting issues our trainers need to be aware of. As well as helping to ensure smooth running of courses alongside our colleagues in our team, I have taken on a new aspect of my role, which is calling our new accounts and introducing our training.”

Jackie’s Fun Fact: I have previously worked in Plant Hire in Devon, but training is a whole new ball game and I can honestly say that it is the most enjoyable job I have ever had the pleasure of doing.