Spotlight on EngTech: Phil Davies
In continuing our series of case studies and in celebration of National Apprenticeship Week 2022, we’ve been speaking to some of our members, finding out about their experience with apprenticeships in gas, their careers so far and how IGEM has supported them up to now. IGEM EngTech member Phil Davies’ career in gas began with an apprenticeship and he later went on to teach apprentices. His current role is National Gas Technical Manager at IMServ Europe Ltd. Here, he tells us his story so far.
Phil’s career in gas began when he was 16. In fact, he started with British Gas as a Service Engineer Apprentice on his 16th birthday - a week later than his fellow new starters due to the fact he was too young to enroll into an apprenticeship and be employed full time any earlier.
“When I first started, I had no idea what the apprenticeship and my working life at British Gas would hold for me, how rewarding it would be but also the friendships I would make along the way that have lasted throughout my career”, he says.
The apprenticeship Phil was embarking on was the City and Guilds Gas Service Engineer Level 3 apprenticeship. Throughout, he would spend his time between the British Gas flagship training centre in Grangetown, Cardiff, gaining knowledge and practical training, a Technical College in Rumney for the theory of gas, and on patch with a mentor to help him gain real world experience.
“I had become part of a team that contained over 50 engineers, covering the Mid Glamorgan area, and was to enjoy every part of my apprenticeship life from there on in. Don’t get me wrong, it was hard work getting to grips with the theory but, as a person who had not really pushed myself in school, leaving with the bare minimum GCSEs and becoming an apprentice, understanding that I was in a job, getting paid to learn and with the expectation of my manager weighing on me, I fully focused my attention on my learning and began to enjoy learning and improving my knowledge and experience every day outside the classroom environment of school.”
Phil successfully gained his Level 3 in Gas Service Engineering after three years of hard work and with lots of fun along the way. This was then supplemented by a further year of monitoring and support to ensure that he was fully ready to become an engineer – “I must thank my mentor Bob Roberts who helped me develop and supported me in my early years as an apprentice and then onto becoming an engineer. Without him imparting his knowledge to me, I think that my career may not have taken so many changes. He always said to give it a try, what have you got to lose?”
He worked as a Service Technician for 20 years and, during which, saw a lot of changes within British Gas. Then, a big change in direction was on the horizon.
In 2010, an opportunity arose as a new BG Training Centre was opening in Tredegar and Phil applied to become a Gas Trainer. He was successful and so began his next development within the gas industry. “We were originally set up to deliver training on renewable technology such as solar PV, solar thermal and ground and air heat source. We also delivered training on energy efficiency and domestic energy assessors. This meant learning new skills to enable me to deliver this training which was originally outside of my skill set. Once the smart metering roll out began in earnest, we were then to be utilised to deliver training to apprentices in dual fuel smart metering – this then meant that, in addition to my own gas knowledge, I had to gain further learning in the electrical metering world.”
Phil worked for the academy for 10 years, not only making new friends from various parts of the country by supporting training centres nationwide, but also making re-acquaintances with friends from his own apprenticeship days.
In 2019, it was time for another big step and Phil joined IMServ – a company with a long heritage in electrical metering, from whole current meters up to large HVCT half hourly metering. They were entering the gas market as meter asset managers and approved meter installers and needed to recruit somebody to fill the role of Gas Technical Manager – “I was welcomed with open arms and began work on gaining MAMCoP and AMICoP approval and Gas Safe Registration for the company, so began my next layer of development, creating processes and procedures for my new employers.”
“This is the point that I felt the need to become an EngTech with IGEM was paramount to support the development for the company and enable me to increase my knowledge of the gas industry even further”, he says, “the EngTech MIGEM gives you access to a wealth of knowledge and support but also opportunities to develop even further with access to technical courses. Membership also allows you to shape the future of gas standards.”
“In my role as Gas Technical Manager, I was writing work procedures and membership with IGEM has been critical in allowing me to remain up to date with all regulatory changes, access to technical standards enables me to carry out research to ensure that procedures being written were correct and in accordance with the industry standards.”
“Being a member of IGEM also gives you credibility within the industry and has allowed me to have confidence in my own ability. As a member of the Association of Meter Operators, IMServ were also keen for me to get involved in the Gas Metering Forum, which I’m now a participating member. I feel that having become an EngTech MIGEM, it’s given me greater confidence to speak from a stronger position to industry experts.”
“IGEM are at the forefront of the hydrogen revolution and, by being a member, I have access to the Hydrogen Knowledge Centre – this is where my next development steps have started and my knowledge is expanding further into the new world of hydrogen gas.”
“When I first started my apprenticeship as a 16-year-old, I would never have thought that I’d still be in the industry 33 years later, let alone have had so different roles in it. I enjoyed learning and being an employee of a company that was focused on my development. Learning and getting paid for it is really a bonus, but also a focus. Hard work, many friends made, continual development in a role and a career not just a job. I wouldn’t change my career path for anything!”, he concludes.