Site visits are a big part of how we stay connected to the work going on across Caecillian. Whether we’re out doing safety checks, finding out more about a complex job or just catching up with the teams, we always come back having learned something.
Across recent visits to our Gas contracts in Leeds and Carlisle, Ellie, our Business Improvement Manager, spoke with four Caecillian team members who are all at very different stages of their careers. Jacob came to us straight from school, Iain made the move into utilities at 30, Johnny joined us this autumn with plenty of experience already under his belt, and Dahl is coming up to retirement after nearly 50 years in the industry. We wanted to hear how they got started, what they’ve picked up along the way and where they’d like to go next.
Jacob Ibbotson: learning on the job
Jacob was 16 when he joined the industry, working alongside his dad and team leader, Andy Ibbotson. Four years on, he’s a Gas GNO1 and has picked up a wide range of practical skills on site. Speaking with customers is part of the job too, and he’s grown in confidence keeping them in the loop while the work’s going on.
He told us most of what he knows has come from being on site, watching the more experienced team members and having a go himself. Having his dad and the rest of the team close by has helped a lot. “You can go up to him, see if he’s got any tips, and he’ll point you in the right direction,” he says. In November he’s off on a week-long course to achieve his service laying qualification, which will mean he can put even more of his skills to use on site.
When we asked if he sees this as a long-term career, he was clear that he does. For Jacob, it’s being outdoors, being physical and having a good team around him that makes it.
Iain Dawson: a new start at 30
Iain, a Gas GNO1 in our mains replacement team, came into the industry three years ago at 30, after working on building sites. The summers were usually busy enough, but the work would dry up over winter. “Previous jobs just weren’t reliable,” he told us, and he wanted something he could count on all year round.
That’s what brought him in, but it’s not what’s kept him. “Now I’ve got into it, I’m absolutely loving it. I wouldn’t think about doing anything else.” He’s honest that it was nerve-wracking at the start, coming into something he’d never done before. “It’s a whole new world,” he says. “You’ve got to think of everything.” Landing in an experienced team made all the difference, and he credits experienced team members Sean and Mal for the support they’ve given him.
His advice to anyone thinking about making the switch later on? “You’ve got to be willing to get stuck in. You can’t be hiding from it.” He wants to go as far as he can, but he’d rather do it properly. “I want to get my tickets for everything,” he says, so that when he does step up, he’s been there and done it himself.
Johnny Saville: finding the right fit
Johnny joined us in September with around 16 years in the industry behind him, most of it working with mains layers. The first team he joined here wasn’t the right fit, so we did a bit of moving around, and he’s now settled into Andy and Jacob’s team. The difference is obvious when you speak to him. “I can smile again,” he told us.
It’s working well for the team too. His experience on the bigger 12-inch mains came in handy on a recent job, and the team now pools what each of them knows to get the work done. Johnny says the mix of experience means everyone learns, and that it’s just as true for Jacob: “If he’s not sure, he knows he can ask anyone.” Add in a bit of banter and a laugh, and you’ve got a team that enjoys coming to work and gets the job done.
He’d like to build up his experience on services alongside mains, and further down the line he can see himself running a team. “I don’t think I’m quite there yet,” he says, “but I’m working towards it.” Johnny’s story is a good reminder that who you’re working with really matters. When people get on, teams are happier and the work gets done.
Dahl Miller: a career built from the tools up
Dahl started in the industry in 1978, aged 18, and has done just about every job on the reinstatement side since, from the grab through to supervising and project management. He’s now a Site Manager and will have been with Caecillian four years this April.
Having started on the tools, he knows the job inside out, and he says that helps a lot as a manager. “You know all the cons,” he says, “so they can’t pull the wool over your eyes.” The biggest change he’s seen in that time is health and safety. While at times it can feel like there’s a lot of it to work through, he can see the difference it’s made, with people on site much safer than they used to be.
What he’s enjoyed most is the people. He’s still in touch with colleagues from more than 30 years ago and talks about the industry as a real community where everyone knows everyone. Having worked away from home for his whole career, he finds the idea of retirement a bit daunting, but he’s looking forward to finally having more time at home.
There’s plenty he’s proud of too, from specialist work on bridges to being able to drive around Carlisle and point out work he’s left his mark on, right back to the first patch he ever laid.
What we take from the conversations
Between them, Jacob, Iain, Johnny and Dahl cover just about every stage of a career on the gas, from the first day on site to the last. They all came into it differently, but the same things came up in every conversation. You learn the job by doing it, alongside people who’ve done it before you, and the team you’re in makes a real difference to how much you enjoy it and how well the work gets done.
There’s no single way in, either. Jacob started at 16 and Iain at 30, and both have found a career they want to stick with. And while Dahl is getting ready to hang up his boots, the experience he and others like him have built up over the years is being passed on every day to the next generation coming through.
That’s why these conversations matter to us. Getting out to site and hearing from the people doing the work tells us what’s going well, where people want to grow and how we can help them get there, and it’s something we’ll keep making time for.
Looking for a career in gas, or another role in the utilities industry? Whether you’re just starting out or looking for a change, get in touch at careers@caecillian.com.
