Apprentices New Career in Pipeline

A new career is in the pipeline for 14 youngsters from Yorkshire and Cumbria who have won a place on a gas mains apprenticeship programme.

The youngsters have been taken on by gas firm United Utilities which operates the region’s 36,000km network of gas mains on behalf of Northern Gas Networks.  United Utilities employs around 1,100 staff and has depots throughout Yorkshire, Cumbria and the North East.

Following a rigorous selection process, the new apprentices completed an initial intensive induction course where they learnt about the gas network, received health and safety training and took part in team building exercises. The trainees will soon join a range of engineering teams all over the region where they will receive expert on the job training. The apprentices will specialise in a number of disciplines including gas mains replacement and the maintenance of vital equipment such as pressure regulators and gasholders. The practical work will be supplemented with classroom theory leading to either NVQ level 3 in gas network engineering or an HNC.

Head of Operations Graeme Liddell was delighted that the company had chosen to take on a new batch of apprentices. “This is the fourth year that we have run the apprenticeship programme,” said Graeme. “Like a lot of other companies, our workforce is getting older and these youngsters will be able to learn from their expertise and experience and take over from them when the time comes.”

The very first apprentices from the intake three years ago have just graduated and are the first gas main apprentices to qualify in the region for 13 years.

Apprentice Robert Carriss - Wright, who has just started his three year apprenticeship, will be based in Pottery Fields House in Leeds and was excited at the prospect of a career in the gas industry. “I feel very lucky to have this opportunity and I’m really looking forward to an exciting and busy career with United Utilities.”

Indeed, Robert and his colleagues will be very busy as United Utilities replace around 550km of gas mains every year, pipe gas to 2.4 million homes and businesses and run the gas emergency service, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.