Wales & West Utilities partners with BITC to inspire over 150 young Newport people
Wales & West Utilities is marking National Careers Week (2 – 7 March) by partnering with Business in the Community (BITC) to showcase the wide variety of career opportunities available within the gas industry.
The Newport-headquartered gas emergency and pipeline service has linked with BITC’s ‘See it, Be it’ programme to engage with approximately 150 Year 9 and 10 students from schools across the city. The sessions are designed to help them to better understand the diverse roles that exist across the gas industry, and the different pathways available to them.
The See it, Be it programme connects students with real-life role models from a range of professions and includes interactive activities designed to bring careers to life. Wales & West Utilities Resourcing Business Partner, Zoe Jones, has been working with BITC to coordinate a series of sessions that demonstrate the breadth of opportunities within the business.
Zoe explains:
“Programmes like See it, Be it are so important because they give young people visibility of careers they may never have considered. By sharing our own experiences and being open about the different routes into our roles, we hope to help break down misconceptions about the gas industry and show just how varied and accessible it really is.”
Wales & West Utilities colleagues are delivering sessions to students which focus on apprenticeships, compliance and data analysis, project management and occupational health and wellbeing.
Zoe continued:
“We want to showcase the wide variety of roles that exist because most people think of the gas industry as only being open to engineers, which isn’t true.
“The impact of engaging with students at this stage in their education can be significant. Not only does it help build confidence and raise aspirations but it allows them to see people they can relate to working in a wide range of professional roles.
“If even a handful of those 150 students leave the session feeling inspired or more informed about their future choices, then we’ve made a real difference.”
Sue Husband, Community Impact Director at Business in the Community, said:
"Today's young people are tomorrow's leaders and that's why programmes like See it Be it are so important. Research shows that four, or more, meaningful encounters with employers can significantly impact a young person’s life outcomes, so we are delighted that Wales & West Utilities has partnered with us through See it Be it to give young people in Newport the opportunity to learn more about the world of work and reach their full potential."
Wales & West Utilities is the gas emergency and pipeline service, delivering energy to over 7.5 million people across Wales and the south west of England. We don’t sell gas; we transport it through an extensive underground network of more than 35,000 kilometres of pipes.
If you smell gas or suspect carbon monoxide, call the National Gas Emergency number on 0800 111 999 immediately. Trained engineers are available 24/7 to respond and keep you safe.