Spotlight on EngTech: Nathan Rodd
In our series of case studies, we’ve been catching up with some of our members, finding out about their careers to date, how IGEM has supported them so far and asking them about their thoughts on the future of gas. In this instalment, we’re talking to IGEM EngTech member Nathan Rodd, who currently works as an Emergency Team Manager for the Southern Region of SGN
Covering an area that stretches from Lyme Regis on the Jurassic Coast of Dorset to Bognor Regis on the Solent coast, Nathan manages a dozen or so First Call Operatives (FCOs) in day to day challenges and workloads, including emergency gas leaks, CO alarm activations, meter work and outlet supplies, to name just a few – “I help to shape and nurture the current drop, and the new faces, within my department,” he says, “I believe in inspiring, listening and helping to develop these engineers to better themselves and take pride in what they do and how they affect and support our industry. I also participate in a managers’ emergency on call rota through the nights and evenings.
“But this is just the current step of my journey and, to understand my passion and experiences, we’ll need to go back to where it all began for me: I found myself landing into the gas industry by chance after a recommendation from a friend who was already employed at SGN. Previously, I’d worked as a Factory Engineer and as an Engineering Technician Marine Engineer (ETME) within the Royal Navy,” he explains.
Six and a half years ago, Nathan applied for the role of a GNO1 in the Weymouth area, with Poole as his local depot – “I spent two and a half years as a mate with a great team leader on the connections side of the business, every day was different in so many ways – different locations, different work areas, dimensions, lengths, routes and, of course, different customers from all walks of life. I devoured the learning, taking on a standby rota well into and sometimes through the night (before the fatigue and working hours requirements were in force). Excavating, using pneumatic tooling, service laying techniques and leakage repair techniques. Instead of just going into work and seeing it as a livelihood, I started to take a very keen interest into the industry as a whole as it steadily became a fledgling career.
“I volunteered for any courses available, with a toe dipped into the metering world by acquiring a ‘refit and cap’ metering qualification, which aided myself and my ganger on service alteration jobs where I could refit the existing meter, in turn, saving another individual from travelling to site and so on. I found myself also participating in certain incidents where a great group effort would be needed for huge losses of supply or interference. These were great learning curves and made me realise and reinforce what an important job we do for the communities and members of the public.”
Eventually, Nathan felt he’d begun to outgrow his position and felt a natural urge to want to move up and given a choice of Team Leader or an FCO role, he chose the FCO position as the wait was shorter – “I spent three years as an FCO, this time lone working but feeling part of an important team at SGN – the frontline of emergency,” he says.
“My role, much like the great people I manage today, included meter work on behalf of suppliers, emergency investigations (both internal and external), relaying and rerouting outlet supplies and aiding repair teams with monitoring or evacuations.
“All the while, my interest and understanding for the industry grew. I enjoyed attending webinars and learning of new tooling, methods and infrastructure coming down the pipeline – excuse the pun! It was during this time, specifically during the Covid-19 lockdown, that I applied for my membership to IGEM. It felt a natural step and, although I was apprehensive, I passed the assessment and became a member at the EngTech grade. With my previous engineering background and industry experience to date, this was the best grade for me and one that, since joining, has already aided and encouraged me to push further. I immediately benefitted from my membership by networking with hundreds of other individuals, businesses and affiliates within every sector of the gas industry. I attended more webinars, talks and supplier showcases. The Hydrogen Knowledge Centre sprung into life and is the best online tool for all things net zero, hydrogen and the future of our industry – one I use frequently. I also applied for the EngTech Grant Scheme and narrowly lost out but, again, networked and received some great feedback and direction to move up to Chartered Engineer. I am now part of the EngTech Working Group as the SGN representative, helping to develop the EngTech grade, recruit and make non-members aware of the benefits and esteem that we are able to share.
“IGEM is the institution where a great deal of our legislation comes from and to be part of that, to help shape it and have my voice and experience count is amazing. I would recommend the EngTech grade to all in the industry, no matter where you find yourself, be that at any level of a gas distribution network like myself, a self-employed heating engineer in a small town or a director at an international gas tooling company - it really does bring us together and benefit everyone in turn,” he says, adding: “as an EngTech member you can benefit by helping shape our regulations, networking with fellow like-minded industry professionals, from keeping up to date with the latest methods, procedures and kit, to staying one step ahead on our journey into a huge transition to hydrogen, IGEM covers all that and gives you, and in turn, your company, an affiliate membership that bears recognition and prestige to anyone you work or converse with within your roles.”
So does Nathan have any inspirations, or ‘engineering heroes’? “I wouldn’t say I have heroes as such within engineering, but I admire Elon Musk for his attitude to design and innovation where he will develop unconventionally and, in some cases, aim huge with almost near impossible claims, he somehow manages to keep edging towards (spaceflight to Mars and Tesla manufacturing are examples). And I’d say my old team leader Garry Hill who really treated me well and showed patience and natural teaching technique in mentoring me on my first skills as I entered the industry. Garry is great with customers, a very hard worker and is still an asset to SGN. There are others too within my organisation who I felt I have looked up to and taken certain behaviours and methods to adapt within my own management style - to them all I say thank you.”
Looking ahead, Nathan says that, while he’s still fairly new to his current role, he is relishing the challenge and looks forward to what the future will bring for him and the industry – “for the future, I see myself as an Engineering Manager – a level up yet again – and who knows? Maybe before or after that I’d love to relocate to the USA to work within that country’s industry.
“With hydrogen on the horizon and net zero a much-conversed target, it’s an exciting time to be on the journey on the inside. IGEM will help me as I progress with continued networking and with industry breaking movements as we all shape the future of gas,” he concludes.