Jarred Knott from the Innovation team, secured his flight by winning an annual competition held by the Yorkshire Gas Association.

The win will see Jarred spend two weeks with Osaka Gas in Japan, to find out how the company is using cutting edge technology and innovation.

Founded in 1903, the Yorkshire Gas Association is a membership group for professionals working in the gas industry.

The Association holds an annual competition called the Ralph Halkett Travelling Fellowship, which gives members the chance to spend time with an overseas gas company.

Jarred, who lives in Leeds, made his case for winning this year’s award through a written submission, and a panel interview.

Jarred said: “It’s an honour and a thrill to win. I work in the Innovation team, where we are always on the look-out for new and imaginative ways of running the gas network.

“The opportunity to find out how Japan’s gas industry is using cutting edge technology and techniques is tremendously exciting.  Osaka Gas is a very future focused company, with an innovation vision which looks as far ahead as 2030.

“I’m looking forward to bringing some of these ideas back to the UK, as well as sharing our own impressive achievements with my Japanese counterparts.”

John Holyroyd-Doveton, Honorary Secretary, Yorkshire Gas Association, said: “The Ralph Halkett Travelling Fellowship is one of many benefits of membership of our Association, whose objectives are all about sharing knowledge, education, members’ participation and personal development, while at the same time providing networking opportunities.

“Jarred was particularly successful in demonstrating how these objectives would benefit both himself and the membership as a whole. ”