An electricity enthusiast who has dedicated over a decade to energising your everyday life is inspiring the next generation.
Matthew Brown, from Gateshead, is a Connections Design team manager at Northern Powergrid and has been with the company for 12 years.
The 30-year-old spends his day designing high and low voltage connections for the region’s largest electricity distribution network operator.
This means that if a new factory, supermarket, or housing development is being built in the region, he and his team do studies on the network and provide customers with a connection offer.
Each day Matthew and his team are working together to ensure the new development areas of our electricity network is resilient and ready for the transition to net zero.
Matthew decided to do an apprenticeship over university because he already knew what career he wanted to do.
When he was just 18, he enrolled in the Foundation Degree apprenticeship in electrical engineering at Northern Powergrid.
And since then, he has gone from strength to strength, working different roles in the business but always keeping his engineering roots close to his heart.
Matthew said “I knew once I started the apprenticeship programme that I had a job for life, I’ve never imagined a role outside of this industry because I really enjoy what I do.
“I’ve been with Northern Powergrid for 12 years now, and when I applied for my promotion and got it, I felt so valued by the company – they clearly noticed my interest and enthusiasm for the role and recognised it.
“As part of the role rotation in the degree programme, they come and spend some time with my team in Connections design, and it’s a great opportunity for me to share my own experience and give advice to the next generation of engineers.
“When people think of engineering, they think its very process focused and there is little room to be creative, and yes it can be, but that’s what great about my role in connections design.
“I get to think about the network in a way that other people don’t, looking to the future and thinking outside the box to solve the problems we may face.
“The people are the reason I enjoy my job so much of the time, there is so much camaraderie it bonds you together.
“Everyone is so interesting and passionate about what they do, especially in engineering because the electricity network has been around for such a long time, you feel a responsibility towards it, your colleagues and your customers.
Iain Miller, Head of Connections Design for Northern Powergrid, said “It’s great hearing incredibly passionate Matthew is about his role here at Northern Powergrid.
“He has spent years building a fantastic skill set and tons of knowledge, something that he shares with our current degree apprentices when their paths cross during the programme.
“One of my favourite things about Engineering is it’s where the creative and the analytical meet – meaning you are a creative thinker solving specific technical problems.
“At Northern Powergrid we are blessed with so many people who have spent decades working on the network, passing their knowledge onto the next generation day by day.
“They benefit from the continuity of a stabler company that provides a variety of roles in a great place to work.
“It’s a powerful thing to be part of.”
Find out more about the roles and responsibilities of Northern Powergrid, visit their website.
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