As Principal Operations Manager, I oversee two contracts covering vegetation management on the Northern Powergrid account across Yorkshire and the Northeast. My role is to ensure that the team is delivering quality operations within agreed timescales and volumes.

We have a team of approximately 200 people across the operation which includes direct labour colleagues and subcontractors. I liaise daily with the planning and delivery teams to ensure we have a seamless execution of works across all areas and voltages, whilst maintaining planned operational procedures within safe working methods and with the best environmental practices in place.

I  joined the company in 2006 as a tree surveyor patrolling the power lines – I loved this role walking around the countryside surveying trees. I moved up the ladder to a supervisor and worked up through unit management, programme delivery and contract management to my current role.

I love the people – as a team, we’ve grown from 24 colleagues back in 2006 working across one-third of one license area, to a team of over 200 that we’ve built up over the years covering the entire Northern Powergrid network. Some of the team have been here since day one and have bought into a collective desire to be the best at what we do. When you’re able to witness someone coming from the front lines and developing themselves and their career, it can be inspiring.

I also like the size of the business. It’s good to know everyone from a new recruit right through to the Executive Chair by name. To be able to converse and have access to people in directorships and support services really makes a difference, as you can make more dynamic decisions and aren’t on the outside of a nameless corporate wall. 

Get involved. This is an essential service working in an industry that will always need us – we work for a stable client, with a cracking team. Training is available for all colleagues – from starter apprenticeships to management degrees. Get in with a company that is going places – get in now and grow with the business.

Working in vegetation management is physically demanding and a very skilled job – you’ve got to be switched on and on top of your game, every day. Our colleagues are made of tough stuff – ask yourself, have you got what it takes? Then apply.