Having first discovered The Smallpeice Trust through his school careers office, John’s connection with the charity began at a pivotal moment as he was considering his future. The Trust’s Engineering Year Out programme gave him the opportunity to combine practical engineering experience with further study, including a life-changing placement in a Norwegian shipyard that cemented his passion for the profession. Those early experiences laid the foundations for a distinguished career spanning the energy sector, leadership roles and, ultimately, becoming a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. Looking back, John reflects on how The Smallpeice Trust helped shape his career and why inspiring the next generation of engineers remains so important to him. Here’s his story.
What first sparked your curiosity in engineering?
My curiosity in engineering was really sparked by the Smallpeice Trust. As I was leaving school and thinking about what to do next, the Trust offered an Engineering Year Out programme that combined further study with practical work experience. It was exactly the kind of opportunity that helped turn an interest in engineering into something much more real.
A particularly memorable part of that year was spending time in Ulsteinvik, a town on the coast of Norway, working in a shipyard. I had the chance to weld, cut steel, operate cranes and see first-hand how large-scale engineering projects are delivered. It gave me an early appreciation of engineering as a practical, collaborative discipline where decisions have real-world consequences.
That experience gave me confidence that engineering was the right path for me. It also sparked a lasting interest in the practical, heavy engineering side of the profession, and a real love of seeing impressive things being built and delivered. I learned a great deal, met some excellent people, and built friendships that have lasted to this day. Last year, my family even went canal boating with the family of a great friend I first met through the Trust.
How did you first hear of The Smallpeice Trust?
I first heard about the Smallpeice Trust through my school careers office. One of my teachers recognised that engineering might be a good fit for me and was very supportive in helping me explore practical opportunities to learn more about the profession, including encouraging me to apply to the Smallpeice Trust.
How did your early experiences influence the journey that led to you becoming a Fellow at The Royal Academy of Engineering?
One of the great strengths of a career in engineering is that every experience builds your skills. You are constantly learning from different challenges, environments and people, often in ways you only fully appreciate later. I have always been drawn to roles where the work is practical, the problems are complex, and the outcomes matter in the real world.
My early experience with the Smallpeice Trust gave me important foundations: practical engineering skills, confidence in technical environments, and the ability to work with different people to solve difficult problems. The placement in Norway was especially influential because it allowed me to contribute to something substantial and see engineering at scale.
Those foundations later helped me become an Engineering Scholar with the Royal Academy of Engineering while I was an undergraduate, and then to build a varied and rewarding career across the energy sector. That career has included work on power stations, building district heating schemes, and now leading a company that safely supplies fuel for literally millions of journeys. Over time, through staying involved with the Academy’s work and supporting its programmes, that connection continued to develop and ultimately became part of the journey that led to my election as a Fellow.
Can you share a moment or experience that captures what The Smallpeice Trust is all about for you?
A moment that captures it for me is the opportunity I now have to support the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Engineering Leaders Scholarship programme. Through that work, I meet outstanding young people at the early stages of their engineering careers. Many first discovered their interest in engineering through the Smallpeice Trust and the Arkwright Engineering Scholarships, and what always stands out is their enthusiasm for technology, innovation and the difference engineering can make to our world.
For me, that is what the Smallpeice Trust does so well. It helps young people see engineering as exciting, practical and purposeful. It gives them confidence, opens doors, and shows them that they can contribute to solving real problems. That early encouragement can be transformative, turning curiosity into ambition and helping young people imagine a future they may not otherwise have seen for themselves.
John is proud to support the charity that helped spark his engineering career and opened the door to opportunities that shaped his future. As a Friend of The Smallpeice Trust, he is passionate about giving back and helping more young people discover the possibilities that engineering can offer. As The Smallpeice Trust celebrates 60 years, John looks forward to supporting its mission to inspire the next generation of engineers, innovators and problem-solvers.
Inspired by this story? Now read ours.