A DENTON dad is singing a different form of praise after becoming an apprentice 20 years after leaving school.
Nathan Walters chased a dream of making music – he is also known as rapper Xtra Time – while also working in a housing association call centre.
But now he has changed his tune after signing up to Cadent’s apprenticeship scheme at the age of 38.
It was while booking in jobs for gas engineers to fix issues at clients’ properties that he started to think: “This sounds like a job worth looking at!”
And after getting permission to condense his weekly hours to four days, he spent the day he gained earning experience in the trade and gaining qualifications.
He then saw that Cadent was taking on apprentices and made the decision to apply. Now happiness outweighs the pressure of the situations he can find himself in.
Father-of-one Nathan said: “I wasn’t sure if my age would be an issue – and it just hasn’t been at all. There are apprentices here of different ages and experiences.
“I’m an apprentice FCO [first call operative], which means I’d been first on the scene of what might be a gas escape.
“You have people’s lives in your hands and you just have to know what to do.
“It is mind-blowing how much information you need to take in, but it’s a great challenge and exciting.
“I have never been as content at work. Meeting lots of different people and travelling to different places.”
Cadent, Greater Manchester’s gas distribution network, will recruit more than 50 apprentices this year after Nathan was part of last year’s intake, ranging in age from 16 to 40.
The firm looks after an underground network of more than 21,000 miles of gas pipes in the north west, as well as providing the region’s 24/7 gas emergency service.
Paula Steer, north west network director, said: “Our job is to keep energy flowing safely and reliably to our 2.7 million customers in the region.
“To do so we recognise how important it is to attract the skilled engineers and commercial professionals of tomorrow – whether that’s someone taking their first steps into work from school or looking for a career change later in life.
“We are very excited that this year we have opportunities for at least 50 apprentices, including many who will be based here in the area.”
Anyone interested in Cadent’s apprenticeships can find more information at www.careers.cadentgas.com.
Positions are available across its geographic footprint, which includes the north west, the midlands, east of England, South Yorkshire and north London.