
When Teams Go The Extra Mile. Literally.
From Veolia - Our People Podcast by Veolia UK
March 30, 2026 · 29 min · Episode 28
About this episode
The episode discusses a critical situation where teamwork and collaboration were essential to resolve a pump failure during the holiday season.
When a critical pump fails at a customer's busiest site just days before Christmas - and the people who need to fix it are all on annual leave - what happens next? In this episode of Our People Podcast from Veolia , we head north of the border to hear a brilliant story of remote collaboration, calm decision-making and trusted teamwork under real pressure. Stewart McKenzie, Business Development Lead for Building Energy Services North, takes the call while driving south on holiday. Ryan McGuinness, Pump Centre Supervisor at Hatton Waste Water Treatment Works, is also off. The customer? A drinks manufacturer facing a complete production shutdown in their peak week. The clock is ticking. What follows is a masterclass in how great teams operate when it matters most - coordinating across distance, communicating clearly under pressure, and backing each other to get the job done. From workshop to van to site, with a few unexpected technical challenges thrown in along the way. Stewart and Ryan also reflect on what this moment meant for the wider customer relationship - and why working with customers, not just for them, opens doors.
People in this episode
Guests: Stewart McKenzie, Ryan McGuinness
Topics covered
- teamwork
- collaboration
- crisis management
- customer relations
- communication
- problem solving
Keywords
- pump failure
- teamwork
- remote collaboration
- customer service
- crisis management
- Veolia
- communication
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Veolia, Hatton Waste Water Treatment Works, drinks manufacturer
Places: north of the border, south
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