About Steve…
Being on a construction site is nothing new to Steve Brown, one of the first apprentices to join the ‘Practitioner in Pipelines for Hydrogen and Utilities’ apprenticeship. In fact, unlike many of his fellow apprentices, he has worked on pipelines and alongside individuals operating in the role he will soon hold – Pipeline Inspector.
A life in construction
Construction has been part of Steve’s working life for over 20 years; it’s a world he understands – from the requirement of tickets to operate on-site to the strict health and safety requirements.
Steve explains:
“When you have worked on a construction site for as long as I have, you get to understand site life inside and out. You know what’s important and what you need to do to ‘get on’. This is one of the reasons why I have several ‘tickets’ including carpentry, electrical, slinger signaler, and Articulated Dump Trucks (ADT)."
Experience on pipelines
During 2022 and 2023, before joining the IACS Training and Education team, Steve spent 14 months on the ESSO pipeline between Southampton and Heathrow Airport, here he tells us more:
“I have first-hand experience of Pipeline Inspectors through my time working on pipelines. I primarily held the role of a welder’s mate but also spent a considerable amount of time supporting and assisting inspectors, from the welding and coating perspectives.
“This is one of the reasons why I applied to be a part of the IACS Apprenticeship. I really enjoyed this part of my job and wanted to do more. I could see how my diverse skill set and experience could be transferable to the role and how it could help me to progress.”
About the apprenticeship
The ‘Practitioner in Pipelines for Hydrogen and Utilities’ apprenticeship prides itself on its diverse team of apprentices. While the programme can only welcome candidates that are over the age of 18, due to health and safety restrictions, apprentices are aged from 18 to 50. Steve adds:
“An apprenticeship may not be an obvious choice for someone with my level of experience, but the inclusivity of the team, the skills on offer, the salary and the length of the apprenticeship make it a great opportunity – regardless of how skilled you already are!"
“While I may have been slightly apprehensive at the start, especially with the college-based study, my experience is helping me feel more confident. I also like the fact that there are times when I can help and support my colleagues too!”
Steve, alongside the apprentices who joined the first cohort in September 2023, has spent seven months on the programme, which is not only honing his technical skills but also helping him to develop a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in pipeline inspection and the future of the pipeline industry.
“It’s been a very exciting start to what I hope is a very successful career,”
