What is your role at Guernsey Electricity?
I am the Distribution Team Lead.
How do you help keep the island running?
I look after the day-to-day running of the distribution team, which is made up of jointers and substation fitters. Most of the team’s work is out on the road, covering everything from faults on the network to day-to-day service jobs.
The team works in all weathers we do not stop just because it is raining. If we need to, we put a tent up and crack on. During storm Goretti, we had one team on standby and another ready to be called in if things became more chaotic overnight. It was impressive to see how everyone responded, that morning was especially busy, with streetlights damaged because of the wind and trees coming down. It showed the benefit of having so much of the network underground, where it is better protected. The team did a fantastic job clearing branches, arranging tree removals and making sure we could safely check on substations and other network equipment across the island.
How long have you worked here?
It was 22 years in February. I started as a labourer with one of the original digging teams, then became a jointer’s mate, a jointer, a low voltage jointer and then a high voltage jointer. After an operation on my shoulder, I moved into more of a management role and progressed from there. I have really worked my way up the ladder. You don’t see that everywhere anymore, but at GEL you do. People move around the business and build long careers here. At the yearly awards, you see people celebrating 10, 20, 30 and even 40 years. That is something the company should be really proud of.
What does a typical day look like for you?
There is no such thing as a typical day. It can be chaotic or it can be quieter, but with the amount of capital work going on at the moment, and more planned for the future, the teams are very busy all the time. I could be doing site visits for customers who need advice, carrying out site safety checks, dropping in to support the teams on the road by helping with faults and all sorts of damage if needed. It is varied, and no two days are the same. Trust is very important in a job like mine, so this is something I've tried to build up with the guys I work with.
What is your proudest achievement?
My daughter is my proudest achievement by far. Work-wise, it is probably getting to where I am now and moving into the managerial side of the business after working my way up through the ranks.
What was your dream job growing up?
After leaving school I did a week’s work experience with a local building company. I had always been interested in woodwork, and they offered me an apprenticeship. Carpentry was what I really wanted to do growing up, and I went on to get my City & Guilds. I am a fully qualified carpenter and could still put up a wall in a house now but ultimately, it was not for me.
What is the most unusual thing about your job?
Probably the unsociable hours. When you start standby on a Friday, you finish the following Friday, and you could be called out at any point during that week, at any time of day. You never quite know what you are going out to do until the call comes in. It could be a flooded cable head, a fault in the middle of the night, or something completely different. But I enjoy the challenge.
If you could swap jobs with anyone, who would it be?
Someone in Formula One, because that is a big interest of mine. I watch most of the races, even if they are on through the night. I would not want to race, but I like the strategy side, the pit stops, the tyre choices and all the planning that goes into it. I am also excited about the Greenpower racing that we are sponsoring with the secondary schools here in Guernsey.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Listen more at school. I paid attention to the practical subjects like woodwork and metalwork, but less so to things like French, English and maths. That said, playing darts helped with quick mental arithmetic, when you are marking, you have to add scores up and take them away quickly before the next person throws. There is a strategy to it.
What are the best benefits offered by GEL, in your opinion?
For me, it is the sense that it can be a job for life, along with the health benefits and insurance. For the teams out on the road in all weathers, having that support and peace of mind really matters.
Bonus question: what is your secret talent?
Darts. I used to play quite a lot at one point, three times a week in different leagues. It is a great community, and I have travelled to Jersey and the UK for competitions and tournaments. I even represented Guernsey in darts a long time ago. Playing darts teaches you to stay focused, think quickly and have a few things in your mental back pocket and that is useful in this job too. Sometimes something unexpected comes up on the network and you have to work out the best solution quickly, speak to the right teams and keep everything moving.
