Sean McGreevy, Network Development Manager with Phoenix Natural Gas, is in the spotlight for this edition of My Kind of Job.
What’s your job?
I am Network Development Manager at Phoenix, the gas network owner and operator in the Greater Belfast area, which to date has invested around £500 million in making natural gas available to around 300,000 homes and businesses. As part of my role I manage the day-to-day running of several engineering operations, including gas mains laying, connecting properties to the gas network and post-connection work.
How did you get there?
I started working at Phoenix Natural Gas around ten years ago, not long after leaving university. I have since worked in several different departments within the engineering directorate while gradually taking on more responsibility as I furthered my knowledge within the natural gas industry. It has taken time but hard work and determination have seen me progress up the career ladder within the business.
What qualifications do you have?
I graduated from the University of Ulster with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. I am also an active member of several professional bodies – the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers, the Pipelines Industry Guild and the Institute of Mechanical Engineers.
Do you have a typical working day?
Each day varies greatly. This makes the job interesting as I constantly face different and diverse challenges. But what is consistent is that I start each day by reviewing what needs to be done, looking at time-scales and then prioritising workloads. Of course unforeseen issues often arise and it is how you deal with these that is the real challenge.
What other skills do you need in your role?
I am a great believer that communication is the key to good engineering and this is a vital part of any job in this area. Team working, strong analytical skills and problem solving are also very important and form the basis of a lot of engineering disciplines. I would add to this the need to maintain a determination and drive to achieve goals.
What’s the best thing about your job?
The best thing for me is to know that we are making a real difference to communities in Northern Ireland. We are bringing them access to a fuel that is cheaper and more environmentally friendly. It gives me a sense of pride to know that on the engineering side we are building a network that will last for many generations. Our gas network is now over 3,200 kilometres in length and is still growing. To give some perspective that is around the same distance you would need to travel to get from Belfast to Moscow.
And the worst?
If I had to pick something it would probably be that we are a company which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. This is of course through necessity as we are the largest gas utility company in Northern Ireland and with that comes great responsibility. The gas industry is one of the fastest-growing industries here and it is a very busy place to be. Most engineers at some point during a month will also be on call during night-time hours and of course there is weekend work. It can sometimes be difficult to juggle this with family life. However, my wife and I work well as a team and support each other in our chosen careers.
What did you want to be when you were at school?
Believe it or not I always wanted to be an engineer. Maths and sciences were my favourite subjects at school. I was forever taking things apart as a child and have always had an inquisitive nature. It is a combination of all these things that led me on the path towards a career in engineering.
What advice would you give to someone considering a career in engineering?
To become an engineer it is important to work hard and have the drive and desire to succeed in your chosen discipline. The learning curve can take time and it is important to get a good start on your learning journey by choosing the right subjects at school. We at Phoenix continue to be big supporters of the government’s push to promote Stem subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths) to students and young people.
What’s the most common question people ask when they find out what you do?
That’s an easy one –I am often asked if I get cheap gas because of who I work for and can I get cheap gas for other people. I have to explain that Phoenix Natural Gas is a distribution/network business and that we are not responsible for the bills that customers receive. We connect householders to our network but then it is up to them to choose a supplier.
How do you relax outside of work?
I have two young boys aged one and three who keep me busy and on my toes. Although as much as I love spending quality time with them, I am not sure I would refer to it as relaxation. I do, however, like to escape to the countryside from time to time to enjoy some mountain-biking or hill walking. A big favourite of mine is Tollymore Forest and the Mourne Mountains.
The multi award winning Irish News is Northern Ireland’s top selling newspaper with over 160,000 readers each day. Renowned for editorial excellence, the Irish News delivers news, sport and features to a huge audience across Northern Ireland and is the only title to have maintained circulation over the past two decades.