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igem news

SPOTLIGHT ON...
ENGTECHS

Tom Donnelly is a gas and heating engineer
who has completed a nationally recognised gas
apprenticeship to obtain his Level 3 NVQ in Gas
Installation and Maintenance. Here, he tells IGEM
Marketing Assistant Jodie Shepherd his story so far

TOM LIKENS THE gas industry to being wasn’t just a boss, he was a mentor
in an extended family: “We meet key and a lot like a second father,” he says.
figures along the way that stand out in Tom’s time at Stoke on Trent Council “IGEM has allowed me to
terms of what they have done to help allowed him to work on all types of develop through CPD but it
you develop, and that is what I want domestic gas works – from auditing has also given me the edge
to try and put across within my career annual gas safety checks, desktop
story,” he says. audits, technically overseeing Permali when applying for roles
In fact, he credits getting into gas meter box installation projects and within the gas industry by
to his brother, Sonny Donnelly, who assisting with managing the central being able to demonstrate
not only gave him the opportunity to heating budget. my commitments. I would
start a gas apprenticeship but also The next big change in his career came
continuously impressed upon him in the form of Dave Tomkin, who Tom definitely recommend
the importance of understanding the describes as a mentor and great friend. attending IGEM events – this
regulations and normative documents, Dave took the time to answer Tom’s is one of the key benefits of
making Tom read them and then questions about the benefits of joining being a member and allows
discussing their meaning with him. IGEM as an Engineering Technician.
While working with Sonny, his “After speaking to David, I decided that great opportunities to learn
work consisted mainly of central the benefits of joining IGEM were clear and network”
heating installations, but also covered but, more than anything, it sounded
heating breakdowns, repairs and interesting and offered opportunities
servicing. However, when Sonny’s that I had never even thought possible
workload wasn’t enough to support without their assistance.”
an apprentice, halfway through his This led to Tom applying for a
apprenticeship, Tom was taken on Technical Officer role at IGEM and,
by Ash Fidler, who Tom describes as following a successful interview, he was
another key influence. welcomed into what he describes at the responsible for the compliance of all
“The work with Ashley was 99 per “IGEM family”. gas works undertaken on behalf of the
cent central heating installations and “I call it a family because, much like association. Tom was also in charge of
this is where I learned the importance of the gas industry, that is what IGEM is. I reviewing policies and procedures and
attention to detail, getting the job done was supported by my colleagues, such carrying out desktop checks on internal
no matter what it takes and customer as Thomas Bancroft, in ways to conduct and external processes. Shortly after
care. Ash was also the person who gave myself better around stakeholders, joining the team, Tom was appointed
me my first opportunity to work solo as a become more punctual and learn as their Responsible Person for Gas,
qualified engineer, doing mainly central about health and safety and auditing overseeing the compliance of 33,000
heating installations. When the work processes. While working at IGEM, I properties and two independent gas
dried up, I went self-employed, working was given brilliant opportunities to networks, which Tom describes as “very
for a local heating firm doing central learn more about the gas industry as a challenging but rewarding”.
heating installations,” Tom said. whole, which is exactly why I joined.” Tom later moved to work at Cadent
A big change in Tom’s career came After finding out his wife was as a Net Zero Planner, looking at
when he was appointed as the Gas pregnant, Tom made the decision to the potential challenges of both
Compliance Officer at Stoke on Trent be closer to home and joined Aspire electrification of heat, converting to
City Council by Rob Faulkner. For Tom, Response as a Gas Quality Supervisor, hydrogen and the impacts they may
this was a second apprenticeship of managing their workforce of 14 gas have on their networks. “I have been
sorts – Rob took the time to guide him engineers. He later joined Metropolitan able to learn more about network
through things he hadn’t previously Thames Valley Housing as a Specialist design, construction, analysis, demand
covered in his apprenticeship and “he Regional Auditor, where he was and forecasting. Yet again, I have been

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