Whether they’re the head of marketing promoting smart meters, the customer service representative helping you change your gas company, or an apprentice kick-starting their career - there’s a story behind everyone.
Read the stories behind the people making a difference in the energy and utilities sector. Be inspired…
It’s a tough job market out there for young people. Apprentice electricity linesperson, Cameron Stafford, 20, from Peacehaven, Sussex, is one of 100 apprentices UK Power Networks is currently supporting through skilled apprenticeships. He’s training to maintain and repair the overhead power lines which keep power flowing in Sussex.
“Don’t let reservations or stereotypes hold you back. Waste is a vast and ever changing industry that is full of interesting challenges and opportunities requiring all sorts of skills.”
"Everyone’s journey is different and may be difficult at times but I really believe that having hope and faith in yourself is a step forward in anything you decide to do."
"A job in utilities also meant protecting the environment, supporting the economy and helping everyone from the local community to 65 million people across our nations. I was hooked."
"The sector is an exciting place for engineers. Water and wastewater services are so vital for all, and the technical challenges and opportunities are endless."
"I’m very ambitious and hopeful about my career prospects whilst at Ofgem, and beyond. The graduate scheme is excellent for training, with a bespoke course for getting up to speed with energy and regulation."
"Before coming to Morrison Utility Services I was a bus driver. I thought it was time for a change of career because of the continued problems I was having with my legs and had heard good things about Morrison Utility Services."
"Being selected as one of only ten colleagues in the first cohort of a leadership programme, designed to develop women in technical roles, has certainly helped my confidence. I've built strong internal and external networks and members of the original group continue to provide professional support to each other."
"I knew I wanted to work with SSE as a graduate in Generation as I would be given the opportunity to work for a company that has a diverse range of generation assets."
"An Interconnect networking event for women in engineering at SSE really helped to identify the kind of work and opportunities graduates are exposed to, and it highlighted how much SSE valued diversity through their efforts in promoting STEM careers to girls from school age."
I've worked for Amey for 2.5 years and recently returned to work after becoming a first-time mum and taking a year off on maternity leave. I’ve worked in programme management, management consultancy and business development for the last 19 years, after qualifying with an MSc in Environmental Engineering and a Post Graduate Degree in Project Management."
What drew me to Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water was its not-for-profit status and its 2050 vision, ensuring that the company puts the environment and its customer at the forefront of everything it does. While the commercial scheme specifically offered me the opportunity to combine my passion for hydrology, energy and the environment.
I am growing my skills and network every day, often without realising. The 4 years of vast work experience and a degree makes you an attractive candidate to any employer.
"My interest in engineering started in sixth form. I hope that by working in the industry, and sharing my story, I can inspire others from differing backgrounds to consider taking STEM subjects and pursuing a career in an exciting, evolving sector with lots of different career opportunities."
"Diversity of thought has been proven to drive the most innovative outcomes and decisions, so making sure our workforce attracts and includes everyone means we can run our business more efficiently, effectively and innovatively."
"I’ve always enjoyed problem solving and am quite a ‘hands on’ type of person. Friends of mine work in similar roles and after chatting to them about their jobs and the satisfaction they got from what they did it made me start looking into opportunities in the energy and utilities sector."
Whilst at university, Omolara saw a future career in the not-for-profit/charity sector. When she realised that Welsh Water incorporated both customer care and environmental care with a not for profit ethos she knew she had to apply.
"For me, going down the apprenticeship route has always been the right decision. It is a unique opportunity to learn about a role, and a business, in a really immense way."
"The opportunities involved with my role are fantastic; I have travelled across the UK, Scotland and Germany, attended conferences in London, and sailed on various different boats."
"There are so many opportunities available to advance in Anglian Water. My apprenticeship lasts for 2 years, this includes the chance to spend time with various people and learn about all parts of the business, some which i never knew existed!"
The variety, the Data Science Team works with all areas of the business. Projects that the team deliver align with different Measures of Success, this means that every project is different, working with a different team, for a different business challenge, using a different analytical technique and adding differing benefits to the business but all with the same aim of improving the service for our customers.
"I use adapted software called JAWS (Job Access with Speech), a computer screen reader programme that allows sight impaired users to ‘read’ a screen through text-to-speech output. Whilst on the phone to a customer, JAWS speaks to me to tell me what is on my screen and how to process the call."
"As a STEM Ambassador I really want to let school students know about the opportunities for a career in utilities and hopefully my experiences can show what possibilities there are."
In the 1980s Hilary Buxton found herself blazing a trail for women engineers. Fast forward 30 years and she's now Cadent’s most senior female engineer!
"The energy industry is fundamental to how we live our lives. It is underestimated in the role it plays in ensuring at the very least we can have your heating on or can cook a meal."
"A key part of my role is assigning the right people, with the right qualifications and knowledge to each job so we are able to meet the needs of our clients."
"An exciting element of my job includes the opportunity to work on improvement projects, so I get to work with some great people on some very challenging tasks."
"The work of my team is vital to ensure what government does in water management is in tune with the natural world, what is going to work and what is worthwhile."
I was a Captain in the Royal Logistics Corps for 7 years. Thames Water seemed like a ‘good fit’ for me and my skillset; I thought the experience I had would transition well.
"It’s been extremely encouraging to see the work that SP Energy Networks does to support women in the engineering industry, so it’s great to be a part of their team."
" I like to use and tell my experiences to the next new generation of girls who might like the idea of a career in engineering. I tell them it is far from a mundane job; every day is different and rewarding."