As a time served engineer, Mr Varney started his career as an MoD apprentice at Royal Ordnance Nottingham, which later became part of BAE Systems. He was there for over 30 years working on the company’s various machine tools before taking promotion onto the artillery section, which produced barrels for tanks as well as field guns. Another aspect was taking the responsibility for setting up an aircraft cannon line which was relocated from a London facility, before moving over to the precision based cellular manufacturing section.

Following his experience in the defence industry, he moves to the rail infrastructure industry, working for  Balfour Beatty where he was involved with the manufacture of railway piece parts and high speed crossings.