Job title: Mechanical Engineer working in Civil Engineering
Employer name: R G Parkins & Partners - InterHydro Technology
Employer website: www.rgparkins.com
Time in employment: 10+ years
Professional Membership level: Incorporated – e.g. IEng
Education level: Foundation Degree, Degree, N/SVQ4, BTEC Higher, Higher Apprenticeship
Ethnicity: White
Location: England
Industry / business sector: Energy & Utilities

My current role:
Hydro-electric turbine specialist working in civil engineering consultancy practice.

What attracted you to doing this?
My role allows me to utilise my mechanical and electrical engineering knowledge allied with civil engineering disciplines to develop new renewable energy projects in the UK and worldwide.

What does your typical day involve?
Hydrological analysis, equipment selection, analysis of catchment data to develop annual river flow data, liaison with other companies to ascertain costs and ultimately develop a cost/pay-back model in order to determine the viability of a hydro electric scheme.

Tell us more about your environment in terms of work-life balance
Official working hours are typically 9-5 but this work is so engaging that I typically spend a couple of hours researching new developments and techniques in an evening. My previous employment has taken me around the world already selling hydro turbines. My current role will take me around again but with a different emphasis. I have met many fascinating people from diverse backgrounds and made a lot of friends all over the world.

What are you most proud of in what you do?
Proudest moment to date was arriving at a remote velley in Vietnam and seeing the gradual realisation on the faces of the villagers when they made the connection between the new hydro-electric station and this person who was visiting their village. The thanks for the change that this electricity generating station had made to their village and their lives already and the change they imagined for the future.

Do your experiences of the current role you are in match your expectations?
Absolutely

How did you get to where you are today?
I sometimes say by happy coincindence. I left school after 'O' levels and after the first year of 'A' levels and began a technician apprenticeship with FODEN Ltd building lorries. After FODEN I spent a year as a service engineer installing and repairing plastics injection moulding machines. Left engineering for a period in the early 1980's when UK manufacturing was having a particularly hard time but returned to it as a technician working in a specialist machine manufacturing company again as an installation engineer. Moved on to a valve manufacturer and moved from production to CNC macine programmer to draughtsman and finally sales engineer. In 1990 I moved to Kendal where I designed and specified stand-by fuel systems for industrial gas turbines, in 1992 I registered with the Engineering council as an Incorporated Engineer, in 1994 changed to hydro-turbine sales and this year moved into a consultancy role within a civil engineering company where my specialist hydro electric equipment knowledge gives my company an advantage in the small hydro market. Between 2001 and 2004 I undertook specific training at post graduate level in business management. Throughout my career I have engaged with training and development opportunities wherever they have presented themselves. In 1991 I was one of the first in my company to be trained in continuous improvement tools and techniques for example.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of following your path?
Go for it.

What would you like to achieve in your career?
Self employed consultant and if that is not possible director of Inter Hydro Technology.

Out of 'office hours', what lights your fire?
Motorcycles, Rock music, travel and researching cultures.

What did you dream of doing when you were growing up?
Architect was my first conscious desire but when that didn't work out engineering was an obvious choice as it built on a hobby I already enjoyed.

Have there been any embarrassing moments?
Falling in rivers.

Name 3 things you still want to do
1. Ride route 66. 2. Visit South Island New Zealand - lots of hydro down there. 3. Work for myself.

Which TV or movie character most resembles you?
Bill Bailey

If you could be reincarnated as one thing what would it be, and why?
I'd be me all over again. Because I think I did this pretty well but there are small improvements I would like to make. Engineers whether they are mechanical, electrical, civil or whatever discipline have a lot to offer the world, the world sometimes doesn't realise it though.