Any Mechanical Engineers in the power industry?

[DanielJames]

Morning all

I'm looking at a change of career and I'm thinking of appliyng to be an apprentice mechanical engineer in the power industry (power stations etc)

I've got family members in the sector (not local enough to get me a reference unfortunately) and I like the sound of what they do.

Starting salary is pretty terrible to be honest, I'll be 21 when I start if I get it and I'll be back on £90 a week. But hey, after my training, I'll be able to make some coin or so I'm led to believe.

So is anyone out there doing a similar job? Would you be able to tell me what you do on an average day, do you enjoy the work etc

thanks

Dan

[rhinochopig]

Are you talking about technicians/field engineers or 'engineers'?

At the technician level, their time is spent carrying out EMIT work - Examination, Maintenance, Inspection, Testing of plant Systems, Structures and Components, such as Valves, Turbines, Pumps, Pressurisers, etc.

The office engineers tend work on the Design, Procurement, Safety Justification, etc. of the afore mention SSCs.

Is the work interesting? No idea, not my field. The kit is mighty impressive though, especially the big turbines.

[DanielJames]

rhinochopig said:

Are you talking about technicians/field engineers or 'engineers'?

At the technician level, their time is spent carrying out EMIT work - Examination, Maintenance, Inspection, Testing of plant Systems, Structures and Components, such as Valves, Turbines, Pumps, Pressurisers, etc.

The office engineers tend work on the Design, Procurement, Safety Justification, etc. of the afore mention SSCs.

Is the work interesting? No idea, not my field. The kit is mighty impressive though, especially the big turbines.

I don't really know to be honest, the advert leaves much to the imagination

That's one of the key attractions - the machinery!

[rhinochopig]

DanielJames said:

rhinochopig said:

Are you talking about technicians/field engineers or 'engineers'?

At the technician level, their time is spent carrying out EMIT work - Examination, Maintenance, Inspection, Testing of plant Systems, Structures and Components, such as Valves, Turbines, Pumps, Pressurisers, etc.

The office engineers tend work on the Design, Procurement, Safety Justification, etc. of the afore mention SSCs.

Is the work interesting? No idea, not my field. The kit is mighty impressive though, especially the big turbines.

I don't really know to be honest, the advert leaves much to the imagination

That's one of the key attractions - the machinery!

Worth finding out although I'm 99% sure that it'll be a tech job as the office work tends to be degree entry. I know a chap in my local who does this - he's in his early 60s now - and is a commissioning engineer. He started as a marine engineer - but the training will be the same - and worked his way up. He now travels the world commissioning power stations and the pay is decent too going on what he drives.

It's usually shift work though if this is a problem?

[hyperblue]

I'm a Mechanical Engineer in the power industry, though I came through the degree route.

rhinochopig said:

At the technician level, their time is spent carrying out EMIT work - Examination, Maintenance, Inspection, Testing of plant Systems, Structures and Components, such as Valves, Turbines, Pumps, Pressurisers, etc.

In my experience, this is what you'll be doing, mainly spending time in the workshop. Apprentice pay may be crap, but as you gain experience it can be well paid. The power stations are usually pretty keen to train people and get you through all sorts of qualifications.

[phumy]

I work in the power industry and have done for 35 years working my way up from the bottom over that time and have been through every position within the Operations department within the UK working on coal, nuclear and lastly gas power plants. 11 years ago I went to commission a gas power plant in Vietnam and have not looked back since, working my way up to Construction Site Manager now working on a new build in Indonesia.

Its a great industry to get into if you can and if you do, put you all into it and it will take care of you for the rest of your life, you will find that as an apprentice you will be working out on the plant and on the "tools" and will learn about some special pieces of kit, what ever type of plant you get into, be it coal, nuke or gas.

Nowadays the manpower numbers are being looked at all the time and are getting trimmed down to the bone so you will be expected to multi-task and get on with the task at hand but once youre in and you keep your nose clean you can stay there till the place shuts. You will get great training in many areas, obviously your main discipline and very heavy on the safety too plus with the possibility of some HV electical training.