Glyn Jones secures new job at gas works demolition site

A delighted Glyn Jones at the Rochdale Site

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Long-term unemployed Rochdale resident, Glyn Jones, has secured a new job after attending a National Grid demolition information session.

After fifteen years out of work, Glyn, 49, attended the community drop-in session at the Sparth Community Centre to find out more about National Grid’s plans to remove two of the gasholders at its Rochdale site. During the course of conversation he enquired about job opportunities and has since secured a role as a Gateman & Security Officer with National Grid’s main contractors Brown & Mason.

Speaking about his new appointment, Glyn said: “I’m delighted with my new role – I love it and Brown & Mason have offered me lots of training opportunities for the future.

“When I saw that National Grid was hosting an information event I thought it was worth asking about job opportunities. I’ve been out of work for fifteen years and spent much of that time caring for my late wife, who had diabetes and passed away four years ago.

“I realised I needed to go back to college and get qualifications so I could support my three sons and I went to Hopwood College and studied an NVQ level 1 and 2 in computers, then secured a forklift license and a CS Badge. But I’d been out of work for 15 years and was struggling to find a suitable job.”

Alan Jones, of Brown & Mason said: “We were really impressed by Glyn’s attitude and he’s settled in on site and has proved to be a welcome addition to the team.

“Brown & Mason always look to hire local people on projects and if they do well, we like to keep them for other projects, too. Glyn’s drive and enthusiasm should be an inspiration for others to follow.”

Another Rochdale resident, Anne Smith, also secured a job at the site and has been hired as an Admin Assistant for Brown & Mason. Though not being in the position long, she already feels at home on site.

She said: “Despite being in work for 25 years, the group of people on site are the nicest I’ve ever worked with. I feel at home, welcome and part of the team.”

Matthew Pearce, Land Regeneration Manager at National Grid, added: “We are delighted that local people are benefiting from the work taking place at our Rochdale site.”

National Grid is taking down two of the three gasholders at the site on Church Street, Rochdale. The site has not been used for several years and the work is part of a national programme to clear disused industrial sites for future use. It expects the first holder to be removed by March 2015, and the second by July 2015.