Company Jobs are in the Pipeline

Almost 140 gas mains workers have started new careers as employees of United Utilities.

The workers – who were all formerly contractor staff – have joined the company payroll after negotiations with trades unions. They are employed as gas operatives.

United Utilities has an eight-year contract with Northern Gas Networks to look after the region’s 36,000km of gas mains. Its job involves replacing and repairing gas pipes and responding to gas emergencies at any time of the day or night.

Becoming direct labour employees will give the gas engineers more job security, more development opportunities and benefits such as pensions and share schemes.

United Utilities HR manager Susan Wareham said the move was good news for the company and the 137 people involved.

“Our staff are the best thing about United Utilities and we are very committed to them,” she said. “Since starting work for Northern Gas Networks last year we have launched the region’s first gas mains apprenticeship scheme in a decade and recruited more than 20 emergency engineers. Taking on these gas operatives is even more good news.”

The gas operatives work in engineering teams across the North East, Yorkshire and northern Cumbria.

Engineering operations manager Peter Christie said: “Whatever the weather these are the engineers who carry out a lot of the vital work necessary to keep gas flowing safely to the 2.5 million homes and businesses in our area. We’re delighted they’re now on our books as direct employees.

“Many of them have worked in the industry for a number of years and have a fantastic amount of knowledge and experience. In time we hope to develop them and give them the opportunities to climb the career ladder which they may never otherwise have had.”