Following graduation Nick began his engineering career with the Central Electricity Generating Board as a graduate apprentice, which involved a two year technical training programme covering all aspects of the UK Electricity Supply Industry. Upon completion of his formal training Nick was appointed to a position within the Engineering Department of a 2000MW coal fired power station in Kent.
For the next ten years Nick undertook a variety of technical operations and engineering roles within coal and gas power stations. During this time Nick was fully authorised under Powergen’s Electromechanical Safety Rules as well as being authorised under the National Grid Safety Rules. Nick discharged a number of shift management positions where he was responsible for the operation of all types of electrical and mechanical equipment associated with the generation and transmission of electricity.
In 1998 Nick assumed a position with Powergen International in Hungary, as part of the senior management team of a new build Combined Heat and Power (CHP) power station. Nick had specific responsibility for the safety and technical training of the Hungarian operations staff, together with providing the operational liaison during the commissioning process.
In 2000 Nick returned to the UK as Operations Manager at Seabank Power in Bristol. In this role Nick was responsible for an Operations Department of 24 Engineers and Technicians and included managing all aspects of Health Safety and Environmental compliance. In 2004 Nick became the Maintenance Manager at Seabank, managing a team of 20 Engineers and Technicians responsible for the engineering integrity of the electrical and mechanical assets of the power station.
In 2006 Nick used his extensive experience of power plant operations and maintenance to secure a position as a Lender’s Technical Advisor to the funders of power and energy from waste projects. In this role Nick undertook various due diligence and technical advisory work associated with project development and acquisition of existing assets.
Nick joined Hawkins in 2013 and is a Principal Associate based in our Cambridge office.
