Newtownabbey based young apprentice Michael Jeffers (28) has been appointed as a full-time trainee Gas Service Engineer with Phoenix Energy Services, having successfully completed a gas engineering apprenticeship with the leading gas company.
The announcement comes on the back of National Apprenticeship Week last month which saw two apprentices graduate to full time positions following another successful intake of young talent. Michael will officially graduate from the scheme following completion of his final qualifications in April, in association with Belfast Metropolitan College, and will join the Phoenix Energy Services Team as a gas safe registered engineer.
The young apprentice has spent over three years with the natural gas company learning the gas trade and his extensive training has included long periods working on asset maintenance, boiler repairs, system servicing and inspections.
Duncan Whelan, Operations Manager of Phoenix Energy Services, reflected, “Michael has worked very hard over the past three years, and his promotion is just reward. Our apprenticeship scheme exists to nurture and develop talent and encourage more young people into a career within the natural gas industry, which now employs over 3,000 people throughout Northern Ireland.
“Phoenix Energy Services employed its first apprentice in 2002 and today over three quarters of the team have come through the apprenticeship scheme. It’s something that the company is hugely committed to investing in and our latest intake of apprentices will see an investment of over £200,000 over the next three years.
“Phoenix Energy Services has always aimed to train up local people and Michael is a great example of how the scheme benefits not only the individual, but the wider community in terms of up skilling workers and retaining local talent within a thriving industry.”
Speaking about his future with the company, Michael said, “When I applied for the apprenticeship program with Phoenix Energy Services I knew that it was something I wanted to do and allowed me use some of the hands on skills I had learnt in previous careers. I was delighted when I was accepted for the program and I’m thrilled to now graduate as a trainee Gas Service Engineer.”
“In the future I hope to progress from an emergency engineer to a boiler service and boiler breakdown engineer. After that I plan to become a fully gas safe registered and qualified technician and hopefully work my way up within Phoenix Energy Services.”