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WELCOME TO THE APRIL EDITION

OUR CONTRIBUTORS EDITOR’S LETTER

NICK ELLINS WITH THE STRESS of the recent coronavirus epidemic
Chief Executive, pushing the boundaries of our collective sanity and the
Energy & Utility push on social media for us to #BeKind in the wake of
Skills Group TV presenter Caroline Flack’s tragic suicide, it seems
Nick Ellins is Chief like there could be no better to time to talk about
Executive of Energy & Utility Skills mental health.
Group, including the National Skills Approximately one in four people in the UK will
Academy for Power. He has over experience a mental health problem this year. That’s why
30 years’ experience in the utility it’s so important to consider how we can all act to
and rail industries, working in a alleviate the suffering of our colleagues when they are
variety of management roles across experiencing mental ill-health. No one is immune to this particular outbreak.
commercial, operational and UK In this edition, we’ll be looking at how utility companies can work together to
and European policy areas. break the cycle of mental ill-health, with a little help from our friends at Cadent.
Nick’s current roles also include We’ll also be reviewing the immense engineering challenges of the Erskine Bridge
Non-Executive Director of the project, finding out how to get the most out of the apprenticeship levy with EU Skills,
Federation for Industry Sector and pinning our hopes on hydrogen with National Grid’s Antony Green – our very
Skills & Standards and Ambassador own IGEM President. Finally, we’ll be taking another trip down memory lane with
for Design and Technology Professor Russell Thomas.
in Education, at the Design & We hope you enjoy the April edition,
Technology Association.

ANTONY GREEN
Project Director,
Hydrogen
Transportation,
National Grid Gas SHARON BAKER-HALLAM
Transmission EDITOR
IGEM President Antony has BA (HONS) AIGEM
responsibility for leading the INSTITUTION OF GAS ENGINEERS AND MANAGERS (IGEM)
thinking for gas transmission and
its role in the pathway to net zero,
through decarbonising the network
either through hydrogen blends or YOUR LETTERS
even a full transition to hydrogen.
Antony is a Chartered Engineer,
a Fellow of both CIWEM and IGEM WHAT ABOUT CO?
and serves on the boards of both IN MARCH, Gi published an article entitled ‘Ofgem RIIO 2 - challenge group
GERG and Marcogaz. disappointed with the lack of proactivity from network companies’.
CO-Gas Safety is also disappointed – with a lack of action from the GDNs, Ofgem
DAVID RAE and HSE.
Project Manager, Pollution indoors is about 30 times what it is outdoors, mainly from heating and
Major Projects, SGN cooking, and obviously contributes to outdoor pollution.
David Rae is a Meanwhile, the fuel industry has still failed to provide concerned consumers
Civil Engineer and with a free test of emissions from a boiler, fire or cooker for carbon monoxide (CO),
Chartered member of IGEM. He a deadly gas of which less than two per cent in the air can kill in 1-3 minutes, yet
has almost 30 years’ experience cannot be detected by human senses.
of civil engineering, oil and gas Our underfunded, small charity appears to be the only free source of support for
infrastructure construction projects victims of CO – surely this can’t be right?
in the UK and was shortlisted for The article ends with the Energy Networks Association asking for engagement
Engineer of the Year in the IGEM with customers and stakeholders. We are publicly offering to engage, just as we
2019 Gas Industry Awards. David have for 25 years tried to engage industry on behalf of CO victims. In case of doubt,
is currently working for SGN on our contact details are: www.co-gassafety.co.uk or email office@co-gassafety.co.uk
major transmission projects in the or text/call 07803 088688.
Scotland network. Stephanie Trotter, CO-Gas Safety

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK GOT SOMETHING you want to get off your chest? We’re always happy to hear any
comments you might have about Gi. If you have an opinion you want to share with
us, email editor@igem.org.uk or write to Editor Sharon Baker-Hallam at IGEM House, 26 & 28 High Street, Kegworth, Derby
DE74 2DA. The best letters and emails we receive will be featured on this page.

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