Talbot Green’s Steve Williams is celebrating after clocking up an impressive 40 years of service in the gas industry.
Steve, 56, who works for gas emergency and pipeline service Wales & West Utilities, started his career as an apprentice in 1977 and after working in a variety of engineering roles across south Wales, has been working at the front line of the company’s operations as a Gas Emergency Service Manager for the last eight years. He manages a team of 17 emergency gas engineers in south east Wales across the Gwent valley from the Severn Bridge to Tredegar Park and Risca to Hay on Wye.
Steve said:
“I can’t quite believe how quickly forty years has passed but I still really enjoy my job. No two days are the same and one moment I can be at my desk planning work schedules and the next I’m in the car on my way to oversee our response to a gas leak.
“It helps when you work with well trained, dedicated and professional colleagues who are always committed and prepared to go the extra mile to support communities across south east Wales.
“Looking back the industry has changed so much. A gas engineer in 2017 is just as likely to use a smartphone as a spanner! But we are as committed as ever to make sure the 7.5million people we serve continue to receive a safe and reliable gas supply, while delivering the outstanding levels of service our customers expect.”
Wales & West Utilities Director of Operations Andrew Hopkins added:
“Steve is an essential member of our team working to deliver across south Wales and we’re proud of the work he does to keep the communities we serve safe and warm. He has built up a huge amount of knowledge during his forty year career – and we’re glad he will be with us for a little while yet, passing his experience on to our managers of the future.
Wales & West Utilities was recently re-accredited by the Institute of Customer Service (ICS) as achieving its Service Mark with Distinction. The company has successfully demonstrated meeting the demanding national customer service standard, scoring considerably higher than the utility sector benchmark and more than sector leading companies like Amazon and John Lewis.
The company has recently won its fourth consecutive gold award at the RoSPA Health and Safety Awards 2017 and is also the first gas network to have been recognised for meeting requirements, in line with the exacting British Standard 18477, for its work to help the most vulnerable.
Wales & West Utilities has a team of more than 1000 trained and experienced engineers to help serve the 7.5m people across the south west of England and Wales that rely on its gas emergency and pipeline services. If anyone smells gas, thinks they have a gas leak, or suspects carbon monoxide poisoning, they should call us on 0800 111 999 and our engineers will be there to help, day or night.
Our team is also working on a multi-million pound, 30-year gas pipe investment programme which began in 2002. Old metal pipes within 30 metres of buildings are being upgraded to new long-lasting plastic pipes with a lifespan of more than 80 years, to make sure homes and businesses continue to receive a safe and reliable gas supply now and in the future.