Life's a gas for Bradford's star apprentice

A 17 year-old gas apprentice from Bradford is well on his way to achieving his pipe dream of a full time engineering career - after scooping a student of the year award at the college where he is learning the ropes.

Jordan Haresign from Baildon in Bradford (pictured, centre) joined Northern Gas Networks as an apprentice engineer last September.
 
He is one of a number of apprentices being trained as a first call operative - engineers who are first on the scene to gas leaks reported by the public.
 
Jordan is learning his craft through hands-on training with experienced engineers, as well as classroom based learning with Lomax Training Services, who work in partnership with Tyneside Metropolitan College.
 
Despite being the youngest apprentice to join Northern Gas Networks last year, he has gone from strength to strength, impressing his older engineering colleagues, and his college tutors.

The ambitious apprentice was named 'business partner student of the year' by Tyneside Metropolitan College this month, receiving his award at a glitzy ceremony held at the Whitby Bay Playhouse.

The proud apprentice said: "I wasn't expecting the award at all, but I was made up when they called my name out. I'm absolutely loving the work. My grandad was in the gas industry, and I've always fancied it, so when I saw there was a vacancy for apprentices with Northern Gas Networks, I just jumped at it. I've not looked back since.

"I've learnt so much in the past few months, and have really grown up too. I can see myself in this industry for a long time. It's interesting work, and there's a really good team spirit. You get home at the end of the day and feel like you've really achieved something."
 
Northern Gas Networks has taken on nearly 100 apprentices since 2005, with the majority going on to take up permanent positions with the company.  
 
Stephen Turns from Northern Gas Networks, who acts as Jordan's training co-ordinator said: "Jordan is one of the most enthusiastic, hard working apprentices you could ever hope for. When he joined us at just 16, he was the youngest of the group, but has settled in extremely well, and is really flying. I'm sure he's got a very promising career ahead of him."
 
Northern Gas Networks serves a total of 2.7 million customers, and looks after 37,000km of pipes - enough to stretch from Bradford to Sydney, Australia and back again. Northern Gas Networks' engineers also handle the emergency response in the region for customers who report a smell of gas by calling the national emergency gas line - 0800 111 999.
 
ENDS