As part of BGB’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the company asked some of its more experienced engineers to share a few of the lighter moments they have seen during their engineering careers.

Engineering teams are built on precision, skill and technical knowledge, but they are also shaped by a shared sense of humour.

“Fool’s errands” are those harmless and often memorable moments where someone is sent to look for something impossible, misleading or completely made up, usually with a straight face and good intentions.

Far from being about embarrassment, these stories reflect curiosity, quick thinking and the culture that develops within close-knit engineering teams.

BGB’s engineers shared some of the most memorable examples they have come across over the years, and in some cases, may even have been on the receiving end of themselves.

Top 10 fool’s errands

“Could you get me...” or “I’ve been sent for...”

• A long weight
• Tartan paint
• A glass hammer
• Bubbles for a spirit level
• A left-handed screwdriver
• Unobtainium
• A box of sparks
• Sky hooks
• A blacked-out lightbulb
• A can of elbow grease

These light-hearted examples are part of the humour often passed down through workshops, factories and engineering teams.

They may be impossible to find, but they remain a memorable part of the shared experiences that help build team spirit.