Alumni
Year Left Quarrydale: 2018
Current Employer: Cadent Gas
Job Title: Project Supervisor
Career Journey
What have you done since leaving Quarrydale?
After leaving school in 2018, I started my career by joining Cadent Gas as a First Call Operative apprentice. In this role, I worked within the emergency response team, often being the first engineer on site attending gas escapes and suspected carbon monoxide incidents. This experience gave me a strong introduction to the industry and helped me develop practical skills, responsibility, and confidence while dealing directly with customers and emergency situations. After completing my apprenticeship, I continued to build my experience in the role before deciding to progress further into engineering. I successfully applied for Cadent’s Engineer Training Programme within the Capital Delivery – Assets department. Over the two-year programme, I gained exposure to major infrastructure projects, working alongside experienced engineers and project teams while developing both my technical and leadership skills. Alongside this, I completed a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Mechanical Engineering, achieving an overall distinction. This gave me a strong understanding of engineering principles and helped prepare me for more complex engineering and project-based roles.
Following completion of the programme, I progressed into my current role as a Project Supervisor, where I now manage and deliver large-scale engineering projects from £2m-£10m on the gas network.
What is your current role and what does it involve?
I currently work as a Project Supervisor within Capital Delivery at Cadent Gas. My role is focused on delivering major infrastructure projects on the gas distribution network, ensuring that all work is carried out safely, efficiently, and in line with strict engineering and regulatory standards. This involves overseeing construction activities on site, managing contractors and suppliers, and acting as the main link between the company and the delivery teams. I am responsible for ensuring that all health and safety requirements are met, that works are carried out to the correct design standards, and that projects are completed on time and within budget. I also play a key role in planning and coordination, including reviewing risk assessments, approving method statements, and ensuring all permits and documentation are in place before work begins. My role involves a mix of technical engineering knowledge, problem-solving, and people management to ensure successful project delivery. I’ve had the opportunity to work on a number of major projects ranging from around £2 million to £10 million in value, including contributing to the delivery of one of the first gas compressor installations on the Cadent network, which was a significant and innovative project within the industry.
What do you enjoy most about your career?
What I enjoy most about my career is the opportunity to work on large-scale engineering projects that have a real impact. Being involved from the early planning stages through to construction and final delivery is very rewarding, particularly when you can see a project completed successfully and know you’ve played a part in it. I also enjoy the variety that comes with the role, no two projects or days are the same, and there are always new challenges to solve. This keeps the job interesting and allows me to continuously develop my skills and knowledge. Another aspect I find rewarding is the responsibility and trust involved in the role, particularly when it comes to safety-critical activities. Ensuring that work is carried out safely and correctly is a key part of the job, and knowing that you are contributing to keeping people safe and maintaining essential infrastructure is something I take pride in. I’m also particularly interested in the future of energy and enjoy being involved in projects that support more sustainable solutions, such as integrating renewable gas into the network and improving the efficiency of existing systems.
What skills or qualities have helped you succeed?
A strong work ethic and a positive attitude have been key to my progression. Being willing to learn, take on new challenges, and step outside of my comfort zone has helped me develop both personally and professionally.
Communication skills have also been very important throughout my career. In my role, I work with a wide range of people including engineers, contractors, and management teams, so being able to clearly communicate expectations, provide guidance, and build strong working relationships is essential. Practical problem-solving skills have also played a big role, particularly when dealing with technical challenges on site. Being able to assess situations, make informed decisions, and find effective solutions is something I’ve developed over time through experience. Teamwork and collaboration have been equally important. Engineering projects rely on people working together effectively and being able to contribute to a team while also supporting others helps ensure success. Finally, having a strong focus on safety, attention to detail, and a willingness to take responsibility have all been important qualities that have helped me progress within my role and the industry.
School Experience
What subjects, clubs, teams, or experiences at school helped you the most?
Subjects such as Maths, English and Science provided me with a strong foundation that I still use today, particularly in problem-solving, communication and understanding how things work in a practical sense. Subjects like Resistant Materials and Engineering were especially important in sparking my interest in engineering, as they allowed me to apply what I was learning in a more hands-on way and see how designs and ideas could be turned into real solutions. While studying at Quarrydale, I also completed a BTEC Engineering qualification. This gave me a good understanding of fundamental engineering principles such as basic design, materials, and how different components work together. It played a key role in helping me decide that I wanted to pursue a career in engineering and gave me a head start when moving into an apprenticeship after school.
Do you have any favourite memories from school?
Some of my favourite memories from school come from the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award, which gave me the opportunity to develop teamwork, resilience, and independence through expeditions and outdoor challenges. It was a great experience that pushed me outside of my comfort zone and helped build confidence. I was also part of the school rugby team, where I was fortunate enough to represent the school on two trips to Holland, competing against other teams internationally. These trips were a highlight and gave me the opportunity to experience different cultures while playing sport at a competitive level. In addition, I really enjoyed taking part in outdoor activities with Mr Petch, including canoeing, kayaking and rock climbing. These experiences were not only enjoyable but also helped develop teamwork, problem-solving skills and confidence in challenging environments.
What advice would you give to current students?
My biggest advice would be to keep your options open and not feel like you need to have your entire career planned out straight away. It’s completely normal not to know exactly what you want to do,
and your path can change as you gain more experience. What’s important is being willing to try new things and learn from every opportunity. I would also strongly encourage students to consider all routes into a career. University isn’t the only option, apprenticeships can provide a great alternative where you earn while you learn, gain real world experience, and build a career at the same time. That route worked really well for me and gave me the opportunity to progress quickly within my industry. Another key piece of advice is to have a good attitude and strong work ethic. Being reliable, willing to learn, and putting effort into everything you do will always stand out, whether that’s at school, in further education, or in a workplace. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, take on responsibility, and step outside your comfort zone, that’s where you develop the most. Finally, take advantage of everything school has to offer, both academically and outside the classroom. Experiences like sports teams, Duke of Edinburgh, and outdoor activities helped me build confidence, teamwork and resilience, which are just as important as qualifications in the workplace and, in my experience, have come up a lot in interviews
Achievement and Future Goals
Are there any achievements, awards or qualifications that you are particularly proud of?
I’m particularly proud of completing my Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Mechanical Engineering with an overall distinction, which has been a key step in building my technical knowledge and supporting my career progression. I am also proud to have progressed into a Project Supervisor role at an early stage in my career and to have contributed to major engineering projects, including a first-of-its-kind gas compressor installation on the UK gas distribution network. In my current role, I hold responsibilities as both a Competent Person (CP) and Authorising Engineer (AE) under Safe Control of Operations (SCO), where I manage permits to work and non-routine operations, ensuring all activities are carried out safely and in compliance with strict industry standards. I have also successfully qualified as a Temporary Works Coordinator, which has strengthened my ability to manage high-risk construction activities and ensure safety and compliance on site. In addition to this, I am continuing to develop professionally by working towards my NEBOSH qualification this year, further enhancing my knowledge of health and safety management. I am also a member of the Pipeline Industries Guild Professional Development Network, which allows me to stay connected with the wider industry, continue learning, and support my long-term career development.
What are your future career ambitions or goals?
My main short-term goal is to successfully achieve Chartered Engineer status with the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM). As part of this process, I have developed a detailed technical report based on the design, testing and validation of a pioneering compressor installation on the UK gas distribution network. This project focuses on solving real engineering challenges, particularly
around managing biomethane injection and supporting the transition to more sustainable energy solutions. Alongside this, I am continuing to build on my engineering and leadership capabilities through further qualifications such as NEBOSH and by gaining broader experience in project delivery, safety management, and technical assurance. I want to continue developing both my technical expertise and my ability to lead complex, high-value projects safely and efficiently. In the longer term, my ambition is to progress into more senior engineering or project leadership roles within the energy sector, where I can have a greater influence on large-scale infrastructure delivery and future energy strategy, such as a Project Delivery Engineer. I’m particularly interested in being involved in projects that support the UK’s transition to low-carbon energy, including renewable gas integration and innovations within the gas network. Ultimately, I want to continue developing as a well-rounded engineer, combining technical knowledge, leadership, and practical experience to make a meaningful contribution to the industry.