Getting to know: Swetha Nair, Technical Graduate
From Dubai, studied in India, then Wales, and now part of our extended family at Houghton Hams HQ… meet Swetha Nair!
Swetha joined us as Technical Graduate in December 2023, in her first job since completing a Master’s degree in Food Science and Technology at Cardiff Met.
And she’s loving being part of our team.
We caught up with Swetha to talk about her studies, her role, and her future…
Q: Hi Swetha! Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your role at Houghton Hams?
Absolutely! My name is Swetha Nair and I’m from Dubai.
I completed my Bachelor’s in Food Science in India and recently completed my Master’s in Food Science and Technology at Cardiff Met.
I joined Houghton Hams in December 2023 and I currently work as a technical graduate in an amazing technical team.
Q: What’s your favourite thing about your role at Houghton Hams?
It’s my first job out of University and I’m really enjoying being part of a family run business that truly values its customers.
One of my favourite things about the role is being able to work with knowledgeable, experienced people on different projects, right at the start of my career.
That’s not something everyone gets the chance to do and I am really grateful.
Q: Talk to us about university… How was your Master’s?
I really loved my course and think it was one of the best decisions I have taken in terms of my education.
Food Science is incredibly fascinating, and the programme was designed in a way which covered almost all aspects of the field.
Now seeing the theoretical knowledge I gained of the industry in real time is like witnessing a craft in action. It makes me feel even more inspired and excited to work in this industry and for Houghton Hams.
Q: What was your favourite part of your Master’s course?
I enjoy trying out new recipes in my spare time, so product development was my favourite thing about the course.
One task was to come up with a healthy recipe concept that was allergen and gluten free.
We were able to conduct trials with various combinations, do taste panels, conduct new product development fairs – that was a good learning experience for me and one of the things I’m now doing at Houghton Hams.
Q: Looking to the future: What do you want to achieve in your career?
It’s a bit too early for me to decide what I want to focus on – everything excites me!
But my ambition is to become a driving force in the industry that will contribute – even if it’s just a small percentage – to help to shape the future of food.
I aspire to innovate and create flavours and provide solutions that may help to address some of the food challenges. And I hope to leave a lasting impact, making the world of food better for everyone.
