Anita Foster

Anita has been with EMP Designs for over a decade and plays a central role in ensuring projects move smoothly from concept through to manufacture. Acting as the link between Research & Development, purchasing, and production, she helps transform ideas into finished products while keeping the many moving parts of the business aligned.

 

Tell us about your role at EMP Designs.

There really isn't a typical day. My role is making sure everything that comes out of Research & Development is converted into bills of materials, purchasing requirements, assemblies, and ultimately finished products. I oversee the process from start to finish and make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible between R&D, manufacturing, purchasing, and production. A large part of the role involves coordinating information between different departments. When R&D develops a new product, I need to convert that information into something manufacturing can use — creating bills of materials, preparing job cards, sourcing components, organising assemblies, and making sure everyone has what they need to keep projects moving forward.

 

What does purchasing involve?

A significant part of my role revolves around sourcing components from suppliers around the world. It's a lot of trawling for components — sometimes desperately trawling different companies all over the world looking for parts that are suddenly in short supply. Over the years, global events have created real challenges. COVID caused huge supply chain problems because manufacturers simply stopped producing parts. More recently, conflicts around the world have created further shortages. It means I have to cast my net wider, work with suppliers I've never used before, and keep searching until I find what I need. When components become unavailable, I work closely with the R&D team to identify alternatives and keep projects on schedule.

 

What are the biggest challenges in your role?

One of the biggest challenges is maintaining visibility across multiple projects at the same time. It's having the full picture — I need information from lots of different people, and if there's a problem I need answers quickly so things can keep moving. So much of my job is connecting different departments and making sure everything continues to flow.

 

What has been the most interesting project you've worked on?

One that stands out involved underwater lighting systems used on films. The Aquabats project was probably the most impressive — finding a lighting product that can operate underwater at that scale is quite remarkable. The combination of technical complexity and the unusual application made it one of the most memorable projects I've worked on here.

 

How long have you been with EMP Designs?

Over a decade now. In that time I've seen the company grow significantly — when I started, there were only four of us. Having watched it develop from a small team into a growing engineering business gives me a real perspective on how far EMP Designs has come.

 

What surprised you most about working at EMP Designs?

Honestly, nothing really surprised me, because the company was so small when I joined. What's stayed consistent as we've grown is the atmosphere and culture. I like the relaxed environment — the work has to be very precise, but the atmosphere is still relaxed and friendly.

 

What do you enjoy most about your role?

It's always busy, so the day passes quickly and it's never boring. The variety is one of the things I enjoy most — every day brings different challenges, different projects, and new problems to solve. I also really value the people I work with. Everyone here is good fun, everyone shares their knowledge and helps each other. It's a lovely company to work for.

 

How would you describe the company culture?

For me, continuous learning and personal development are fundamental parts of the culture here. People are keen to progress, keen to learn, and everyone chips in where necessary. We all work together and support each other — nobody gets stuck doing the same thing all the time, and nobody stops learning. It's also very open: if I've got a problem, I can go and speak to Dan, Matt, or anyone else. That's actually quite rare, and it means you feel comfortable talking to people here.

 

What skills have you developed during your time at EMP Designs?

Over the years I've worked across almost every area of the business — the pick-and-place machines, manufacturing, assembly, purchasing, administration, pretty much the whole range of EMP. My role has evolved a lot since I joined, giving me experience across both the technical and operational sides. If they needed me somewhere, I could turn my hand to pretty much anything. I might not be as fast as some of the people in manufacturing, but I could certainly help.

 

What are three words you would use to describe EMP Designs?

Innovative. Friendly. Busy.

 

What kind of people succeed at EMP Designs?

Adaptability is one of the most important qualities. You need to be hard-working, willing to think for yourself, and not afraid to try different things. Flexibility is essential too — you can't come in with the attitude that your job is only one thing. Everyone helps out, everyone works together, and the people who fit in well are usually those who enjoy a challenge and are willing to adapt.

 

What excites you most about the future of EMP Designs?

There's a constant stream of new ideas, and I love seeing them become real products. One day they're just concepts being discussed, and before you know it they're being used on film sets, exhibitions, attractions, and projects all over the world.

 

Finally, what advice would you give someone thinking about joining EMP Designs?

Curiosity, adaptability, and a willingness to learn will help anyone thrive here. The great thing about working at EMP is that you're always learning — if you're curious and enjoy solving problems, you'll fit right in.

 

What's your hot drink of choice?

A cup of tea first thing in the morning. Definitely caffeinated!