Spotlight on EngTech: Andy Durber
In continuing our series of case studies, we’ve been speaking to some of our EngTech members, asking them about their careers so far, their thoughts on the future of gas and how IGEM has supported them in their careers to date. Andy Durber is a Fellow member of IGEM and a Director of both Blue Flame Associates and Blue Flame Certification.
Andy’s career began when he became an Apprentice Gas Service Engineer with British Gas West Midlands after finishing school in 1993. He then became a Gas Service Engineer after being named the City & Guilds First Prize Winner for his apprenticeship, before moving into Technical Training for British Gas as a Training Consultant, primarily involved in providing Industrial and Commercial training to external business. Then, following the business’s reorganisation, which unfortunately closed the external training department, Andy moved into Technical Standards, developing British Gas’s National Operating Procedures.
Having opted to take voluntary redundancy from British Gas, Andy then joined a local Further Education College as a lecturer before becoming a Commercial Development Manager. When he left the college, he pursued a number of independent consultancy roles before starting Blue Flame Associates and Blue Flame Certification with colleague Nick Evans.
“As a Director of Blue Flame Associates, I am primarily, on a daily basis, responsible for the Consultancy Services arm of the business but involved in all aspects of the business, offering consultancy support to industry in gas utilisation, building services and energy efficiency measure (EEM’s), primarily for Local Authorities, housing associations, registered social landlords, universities, and industrial and commercial gas users”, he says – also adding that he is proud that to be currently actively involved in a number of hydrogen projects.
“Blue Flame Certification are UKAS Accredited Certification Body to BS EN ISO / IEC 17024, offering certification of persons in the gas utilisation and oil sectors and BS EN ISO / IEC 17065, offering certification of businesses in energy efficiency measure (EEM’s) to PAS 2030 and offering Competent Persons Scheme under the Building Regulations covering Building Services and Building Fabric measures”.
On deciding to become an IGEM member, Andy says that, from first starting in the industry, he always believed it was important to be a member of a professional engineering institution: “Whilst it seemed rare for someone from the British Gas’s Service Department to join, I was proud to become a member back in 1993. I am glad to see that the membership from the downstream gas utilisation sector has grown over the years”.
“From initially joining, I have always felt it important to be involved in the Institution and not just be a member”, he says. “Taking this approach, from my first Regional Short Paper to now being involved in or chairing several technical panels and working groups, has enabled me to meet some excellent engineers. Nobody can know everything, so having had the opportunity to form a large network of colleagues and friends within the Institution always gives you someone to go to when you need some advice or support”.
Andy’s IGEM stand out moments include winning the Dieterichs Maclay Award for Short Papers, joining the Gas Utilisation Committee, becoming chairman of his first IGEM committee (IGEM/UP/1 Series) and becoming a Fellow of the Institution in recognition of the great work he has done to support IGEM, while he points to Blue Flame Associates reaching its 20-year anniversary as his main work stand out moment.
When asked if he has any advice for those starting out in the industry, Andy says “pursue your goals”, also adding that the EngTech grade (which he says he values because “it gives you that professional recognition of your engineering achievements”) allows you to be professionally recognised at potentially an early stage in your career.
His thoughts on the future of gas? “I am not old enough to remember the last time our industry went through a large-scale change during the conversation from Towns Gas to Natural Gas, but I am proud to be actively contributing to the changing sector we are currently in with the move to hydrogen and decarbonisation of the industry. I believe that there is still a place for ‘gas’ in the world, even though we may be moving away from Natural Gas, and it has never been more important for our Industry to attract new Engineers at all grades”.
In terms of what’s next on a personal level for Andy, he says his goals are to contribute to the work involved in preparing for the move to hydrogen and for the continued growth and success of both Blue Flame Associates and Blue Flame Certification.