Most toxic place I've ever worked - Avis employé Mechanical Fitter Ridgway Machines

Free drinks are available in the canteen

The most toxic work place you will experience.

It's a nice clean environment

I have no axe to grind but I would like to pre warn others before they commit to working for Ridgway machines. Also read the other reviews because my experience was very similar to how they describe their experiences and it hasn't appeared to get better as time has gone on. They have real problems there and don't seem to learn or don't care enough to do anything about the situation. Firstly if you agree anything verbally with Ridgway or the agency regarding your terms and conditions, get it in writing from both parties. Don't take anyone's word or any gentleman's agreement because if its not in writing then it definitely won't happen. I am an experienced mechanical engineer but would still expect an element of training and a settling in process. I was told that this would be the case but it's not. On day one you are expected to perform as if you have been there for years. In your first week you will be put under intense pressure to perform and you will be scrutinised. I know that they need to assess you but there are reasonable ways of going about it. I found Ridgways methods to be unnecessarily aggressive and over the top to the point where I felt they were trying their best to find a weakness and a reason to usher you out straight away. It really is sink or swim time. If you struggle then you will be gone. No doubt about it. It's like anywhere, there is alot to take in at a new factory but I felt like you had only one chance to ask a question. If you asked the same question again in the future it might be answered but there is an element of an attitude that goes with the answer. I too found the working environment quite toxic. It definitely is not a happy place to be in my experience and previous reviewers have said the same. The turnover of staff is the highest that I have ever come across . I mentioned it in my interview but it was dismissed as" it was everyone else's fault and nothing to do with us as a company ". However once I started there I could see immediately why people didn't want to stay. As others have said, I too felt like every move i made I was being watched. I felt guilty if I so much as looked at a nearby colleague let alone talk to him and if I did talk the look of fear on my colleagues face and the glance over his shoulder confirmed my intuition. There is a constant pressure to be faster . It gets to the point where you feel like you need to be a formula one mechanic against the clock in the pits. Despite the fact that you are building something that you have never yet seen before. My previous experience got me through the trial period but by then I knew I wouldn't be staying and I would be leaving on my terms. Other people didn't have that chance to leave that way. If you dont fit in then you are out. It can be ruthless. I felt like I got through the first three months despite them and not because of them. It's a shame because it could have been a good and interesting place to work but they have issues there that they just don't seem to be able to deal with. "It's everyone else's fault "doesn't wash with me. They can't all be wrong . My advice is that you have a good long think about it before you commit to working there and make sure that you get all of your niggling doubts dealt with. Don't just rely on the agency for an opinion or advice I have never dealt with an agency before and i naively thought they would be straight with me. Try and get as many opinions as you can from as many sources as you can. I agree with a previous reviewer , if you are already in a job and are not desperate to leave then it's probably best to let this opportunity pass you by and wait for something else. To be honest I gave them one star. If I had the option I'd have given less.