From REME to Smart Metering Trainee
Tony's story
How did you find out about the role at British Gas?
I've always had ambitions to work for a big company like British Gas, so when my friend told me about British Gas Smart Metering being the next big thing I decided to go on Direct.Gov for jobs. I found the Smart Metering role with British Gas straight away and applied through the link.
What type of person makes a good Smart Metering Trainee?
A good attitude is key to the role we play, especially for our customers, there are many different people you meet and you have to adapt to customers’ specific needs.Also practical/problem solving experience would help but it’s not essential as British Gas have fantastic training facilities to ensure you have all the skills you need. If you are the right person for the job then British Gas will train you as they pay you and will create the perfect environment for you to learn new skills every day.
Tell us about your job?
A typical day at British Gas starts with loading your jobs onto your touch screen dell tablet this also has all your technical information, intranet/internet and work emails, this is really like your home office. Once your jobs are loaded you can check you have all your equipment for the day ahead. It’s then your responsibility to phone customers on your work’s mobile to confirm you are on your way, arrive on time, order any stock needed and upgrade the customer’s meters to smart meters. We also fit an energy monitor which is great to interact with the customers making sure they are happy and hopefully help them save money. There is no depot to go to, it truly is a mobile office, it’s like being your own boss, however if you have any problems you have a line manager that will call most days to check everything is ok and other team members that you can contact anytime who can help out. We utilise the post office to collect new stock and return stock. If you finish early all the engineers help each other out to ensure we all complete our work at the end of the day.
Best things about working for British Gas?
The best part about my job is helping customers, this involves giving customers energy saving tips and sometimes you can get them free loft/cavity insulation. Every day is different and you meet new people every day and visit new areas.
I also enjoy team work and getting everyone on the team together. I like to organise team building days, this can range from a trip down the pub to a day on the golf course for everyone. Recently my Manager and I took part in a mud run called the Newcastle Stampede which raised money for the British Heart Foundation, there is always exciting things going on at British Gas.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
For me it’s the whole package you get for working for British Gas, there is so much on offer in terms of benefits, pension and healthcare. There are also great career opportunities for whichever path you choose.
Another important factor for me is job security; you really feel part of the British Gas family.
Have you any funny stories relating to your job?
Most days are a tight schedule and I always like to get to jobs on time but you never know what obstacles can get in your way!!One day I was running late and whilst I was making my way to the next job, the road I went down was blocked. For a split second I thought I back in the Army in my Army Landover, I went onto the grass verge and got stuck in the mud and it took me 2 hours to get out.....Lesson learnt!!
What was your role in the military and what was it that made you decide to join British Gas?
I served 6 years in the REME (Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers); I was a Metal smith which involved many skills like welding, sheet metal work and fabrication. In other words anything that was metal that needed fixing came my way.
I wanted to join British Gas because it offers all the good things that the military offers such as Job security, pension, discounts and a good team to work with too.
What similar skills do you need at British Gas that you needed in your military role?
As a Smart Metering Engineer at British Gas its very similar to being on exercise in the army....You have to make sure you have all the correct equipment on the van and all your tools ready at any given time. The skills you learn in the military prepare you for any situation; you can learn quickly and react well in adverse conditions. This is especially useful when problem solving skills are required to ensure that our customers have their gas and electricity supply restored as soon as possible.