Jun 21, 2018
The IGEM Young Persons Paper Competition has been won by third year apprentice at Wales & West Utilities, Sam Jones.
The competition, the top prize of which is a trip to Abu Dhabi to experience the 2019 World Energy Congress, is run by IGEM (the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers) and sponsored by ULC Robotics and SGN. Competitors are nominated by region after winning their regional heats.
Sam won the prize for his innovative presentation style, message and developed skillset. First, he utilised amateur dramatics to present a skit featuring a roadside engineer and a member of the public about how roadside gas works can be disruptive to people’s lives, and how it takes skilled communication to build customer confidence. He then presented a short self-made video animation for customers letting them know why gas networks are replacing all metallic pipes and why this work is beneficial. This video was intended to be distributed on USB sticks designed to look like gas pipes.
Sam said:
“I think today was about representing Build & Replace, representing the Wales & West Utilities apprenticeship scheme and demonstrating the skills I have learnt over the last three years. It’s about promoting what the company has invested in me. Although I am coming to the end of my apprenticeship journey, hopefully it’s the start of a new journey for Wales & West Utilities as my project is rolled out with the help of my peers.”
He is now looking forward to going to Abu Dhabi, especially since he hasn’t left the UK since he was 14.
Steve Edwards, IGEM President and chair of the competition judges, said:
“The presentations we saw here today were as good as any I have seen at any utility conference in the UK. The judges were looking for the passion, the drive and the involvement that Sam clearly demonstrated in bucketloads.”
Entry details for the 2019 competition will be available from the IGEM website soon. Check www.igem.org.uk for more details
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