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SPOTLIGHT ON... local authority’s planning department
and as a Customer Service Advisor at
an LPG company. However, as she was
living in rented accommodation, she
ENGTECHS stability for the future.
knew she needed something with more
“I came across an advert at the local
job centre one day, which was purely
advertised as Network Records Assistant,
which intrigued me, so I submitted
an application and this is when I was
informed that this position was at National
Grid Gas Distribution (c/o Wilcock
To celebrate Women in Engineering Day on 23 Consulting), a company that was literally
June, we are turning the spotlight on some of the on my doorstep and that I had never really
fantastic women in the industry, asking them about noticed or considered before.”
In 2005, Sarah joined the industry as
their careers to date, hopes for the future and how part of the Way Ahead, “knowing zilch
IGEM has supported them so far. Sarah Parker has about the gas industry”. She became
recently obtained her IGEM EngTech membership status and part of the third-party quotations
currently works as a GIRS Specialist at National Grid Metering team, issuing quotations to the UIP/
IGT market, which back then was
very minimal in terms of industry
PRIOR TO LEAVING school, Sarah says Level 2 in Business Administration while competition. She earned two customer
that she didn’t really have any aspirations working part time in a local café.” service star awards during her time there
for what she wanted to do in life: “For She was then given the opportunity and was also privileged to show Sir John
some reason, going to university wasn’t to work for a major workwear company Parker, Chairman of National Grid at that
something that was on my radar. I knew as a Customer Service Advisor and, time, the role of her team.
that I enjoyed working with computers alongside the contract managers, She remained with National
and organising people and processes. managed a portfolio of companies who Grid/Cadent over a 15-year period,
I had thoroughly enjoyed my work had contracts with the company for undertaking various roles in design
experience within a packaging company garment ordering, renewals and general validations, model maintenance,
as an office junior, so I enrolled at the queries. When that opportunity came network analysis, non-standard
local college and completed an NVQ to an end, she did some temping for the connections and then working within

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