Cardiff’s Scott Winton has received a helping hand from his employer, Wales & West Utilities, to help him as he continues his pursuit in playing ice hockey for semi-professional side, Bristol Pitbulls.
Scott, 23 from Splott, works full time as an Asset Integrity Apprentice at the company’s headquarters in Newport, but with commitments that mean he has to train late at night and travel to games across the UK, the gas emergency and pipeline service has stepped in to help ease the financial burden.
Scott explains:
Training is every Thursday at 10.30pm so each week I leave work to travel and then weekends are dedicated to playing matches and this can take me anywhere in the UK.
I’ve been playing ice hockey since I was eight but when you turn semi-pro it can be an expensive sport, as most players need to dip into their own pockets to keep playing.
Scott plays as a forward on the right wing and has been playing for Bristol Pitbulls for three years, he continued:
As a team we raise some money through ticket sales but with the cost of hiring a rink coming in at around £400, we often need to put a fair bit in ourselves which is where my employer has been such a help.
In recognition of the support Scott now proudly wears Wales & West Utilities logo on the back of his jersey. He added:
I am so happy that Wales & West Utilities has provided this much-needed sponsorship, which helps cover the cost of training sessions. It’s been a great help to me, whilst the whole team also appreciates the gesture.
Wales & West Utilities provided the funding as part of its commitment to support its employees and the communities it serves.
Bethan Jones, Head of Human Resources at Wales & West Utilities, said:
Scott is clearly a talented player, who has shown commitment to the sport since a young age. We’re delighted to sponsor him, and we’re pleased that we’ve been able to take away some of the financial burden of travel and associated costs.
“We wish Scott the best of luck with the season ahead and hope our support brings him a lot of luck with the Bristol Pitbulls.
Wales & West Utilities, the gas emergency and pipeline service, brings energy to 7.5m people across the south west of England and Wales. If you smell gas, or suspect the presence of carbon monoxide, call us on 0800 111 999 straight away, and our engineers will be there to help any time of day or night.