Celebrating 35 years at Sercal: from placement student to laboratory manager

This year, we are proud to celebrate an incredible milestone as our Laboratory Manager Simone Vallance marks 35 years with Sercal, an Oceanscan Group business.

Having joined the business as a college placement student in 1991, she has built an impressive career through dedication, technical expertise, and a passion for helping others develop. We sat down with her to reflect on her journey, the changes she has seen over the decades, and what continues to make Sercal a special place to work.

What have been your roles at Sercal over the last 35 years?

My journey at Sercal has been a gradual progression through a variety of roles: from College Placement Student through to Trainee Calibration Technician, Calibration Engineer, Senior Calibration Engineer and to my current role as Laboratory Manager. As Laboratory Manager my day-to-day role covers ensuring our laboratory complies with UKAS requirements, for example organising external calibration of our measuring test equipment, keeping laboratory quality documents up to date this and facilitating an efficient turnaround of customers equipment through the calibration system. Calibrating customer equipment remains a big part of my job, I always enjoy being in the lab.

To our customers, whether a national company or independent contractor, this means they continue to receive the high quality service that the Sercal team is known for.

Looking back, it’s been a rewarding journey that has allowed me to develop both technically and professionally while remaining part of a business I genuinely enjoy working for.

What did life look like before joining Sercal?

People often ask that question and seem surprised when I tell them the answer. My entire working life, both during and after further education, has been at Sercal in one form or another. I’ve just turned 53, so yes, I started quite young!

How has the business changed since you joined in 1991?

In some ways, Sercal hasn’t changed as much as you might expect.

Apart from a few staff changes over the years, although many of our team members have been here for more than a decade, and a change of location many years ago, the foundations of the business remain the same.

We’ve continued to expand our UKAS accreditation and calibration capabilities, but our core values have remained consistent throughout my time here. Delivering quality service, prioritising customer requirements, and building a strong team have always been at the heart of what we do.

The biggest changes came when Sercal became part of Oceanscan and later joined the Venterra Group. Like any business transition, there were periods of uncertainty and challenges to navigate, but throughout it all, our determination, dedication, and commitment to our customers remained strong.

What has kept you at Sercal for such a long time?

Without hesitation, it’s the people.

Sercal has always had a great team culture. Every person here is as valuable as the next, and people are always willing to step outside the boundaries of their role to help each other when needed.

There’s a lot of humour, a good degree of autonomy, and a genuine sense that everyone’s contribution matters.

I also enjoy the fact that no two days are exactly the same. That variety keeps the role interesting and ensures there’s always something new to learn.

Do you have a career highlight?

That’s a difficult question after 35 years and so many great memories.

Because my career has been a steady progression rather than one defining moment, it’s hard to single out a particular achievement.

That said, one achievement I’m particularly proud of is going from being a trainee myself to training and mentoring others. Sharing knowledge, helping people develop their skills, and learning how best to support different individuals has been incredibly rewarding for everyone involved.

Is there anyone in the business who has inspired you?

Honestly, everyone here inspires me.

In order of longevity: Dennis, Ryan, Jemima, Dave, Sue, and of course our four-legged Morale Officer, Vinnie, all bring different strengths and qualities that I admire.

Can I give a “GO TEAM SERCAL!” cheer?

The support, dedication, and capabilities of the team are a huge part of why Sercal has remained such a strong company through the decades.

What do you love about the industry you work in?

The people are a big part of it.

We meet a wide range of customers and industry professionals through our work, and whenever time allows, we try to have a quick chat. Over the years I’ve heard some fascinating stories, and customers genuinely appreciate that personal interaction.

I also love the variety of the role itself. On any given day I might be working on laboratory quality administration, calibrating equipment such as flaw detectors, phased array systems, thickness meters, calibration blocks or probes, training colleagues, learning new skills myself, or even making a probe lead.

There’s always something different happening.

What’s the secret to your success?

Success is a sliding scale. The small wins are just as important as the big ones, and it’s important to recognise both.

Personally, I think my success has come from being determined, friendly, good at my job, and not being afraid to speak my mind – although not everyone may agree with that last point!

More importantly, though, the success of Sercal is built on the strength of the team. Individual achievements are important, but it’s what we accomplish together that really matters.

What advice would you give to someone joining the business today?

Being the new person can be daunting. Thankfully, I haven’t had to experience that feeling for quite a while!

My advice would be simple: do your best, communicate openly, and never underestimate the value of a friendly smile.

Don’t put pressure on yourself to understand everything immediately or get everything right from day one. Ask questions whenever you need to; most colleagues will appreciate that far more than struggling in silence.

If things feel overwhelming, step away for a moment, grab a drink, clear your head, and come back to it. There is always support available, and you shouldn’t be afraid to use it.

Most importantly, remember that everyone in the business was once the new person too, and they’ve all felt exactly the same way.

Thank You for 35 Years

From trainee to Laboratory Manager, this remarkable 35-year journey reflects the dedication, expertise, and team spirit that continue to define Sercal today.

Thank you to Simone for your commitment, your knowledge, your sense of humour, and your contribution to the business over the past three and a half decades. We look forward to celebrating many more successes together.