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INDUSTRIAL AFFILIATES GARETH TOYER

NATIONAL GRID TRAINING SITE JOINS AVK UK

RECEIVES TOP GRADE FROM

OFSTED FOR THIRD TIME

GARETH TOYER

GARETH TOYER HAS joined AVK UK
as General Manager, Gas.
Prior to joining AVK UK, Gareth
was Commercial Director (General
Manager) of the Gas Arc Group
and has over 20 years’ experience
developing and delivering products
and services for the industrial, high
purity, specialty and medical markets.
Gareth believes there are exciting
growth opportunities for AVK UK
in the natural, renewable and
alternative gas markets. He said: “The
gas distribution sector is typically
perceived as conservative with a small
‘c’. With safety being paramount,
any change or innovation has to
meet, quite rightly, the necessary
standards and accreditations.
“The next 20 years, however,
are likely to see a growing role
for hydrogen, biogas, syngas and
maybe even shale gas. This diversity
will drive innovation in materials,
processes and service provision.
Unlocking the power of ‘smart data’
will enable us to provide customers
JOHN TYLER AND AMANDA SPIELMAN with greater control and management
of their installations and systems.
IN JUNE, NATIONAL GRID hosted work experience programme is 50 per “A key part of my role is to ensure
Ofsted Chief Inspector Amanda cent female, helping to encourage more that AVK plays its part in shaping
Spielman at its Eakring Learning Centre, young women to consider exciting the future of the gas industry and is
the only one of its kind in the UK. career opportunities and helping to well-placed to take advantage of the
The visit gave National Grid the address the STEM gender gap. opportunities that arise.”
opportunity to share how they are using Home to an array of immersive
apprenticeships to invest in the skills of learning environments such as an
its future workforce and, in turn, support electricity substation, overhead lines,
the UK skills and climate change agenda. virtual reality suites and the only fully John Tyler, UK Head of Academy
The visit follows Ofsted’s most functional gas transmission training at National Grid, said: “It was a
recent inspection of National Grid’s facility in Europe, the Eakring Learning pleasure to welcome Her Majesty’s
apprenticeship programmes, following Centre is the only UK training facility Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman to
which the company received an of its kind. Eakring Learning Centre. It gave us the
‘Outstanding’ grade for the third During a tour of the site, the Chief opportunity to share our knowledge,
consecutive time. Inspector was shown these facilities and discuss and demonstrate that we are
The centre offers a range of technical, spent time speaking to National Grid fully invested in the current and future
professional and leadership development apprentices about their development skills of our organisation and that of
programmes. Notably, its residential journeys and the facilities available. the broader UK economy.”

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