Careers INTHESPOTLIGHT: Paul Norton


NAME: Paul Norton JOB TITLE: Key account director for the water sector COMPANY: BSS Industrial.


What was your first job?


My first job after leaving school was at Sheffield United Football club as an ap- prentice footballer.


What do you like/hate most about your current job? I like the variety that the industry brings on a day-to-day ba- sis but the thing I find frustrating is trying to fill the gaps caused by the peaks and troughs of the AMP cycle.


How has past job experience helped in your I previously worked in distribution, serving the


current role? Q years career-wise? What do you look for in a job?


I look for a job to be challenging, rewarding and skill enhanc- ing.


What’s your most immediate concern?


Meeting the expectations of what I often consider to be a fragmented market sector.


What vehicle do you drive? I drive a BMW 3 series.


If you could job swap for the day what would you want to do and why?


I would like to do Sir Alex Ferguson’s job for a day. I want to know the secret of how he keeps himself motivated year after year after such a long and successful career.


22 | WET News | July 2012


water sector for 11 years. That time gave me a good level of knowledge on a wide range of products. This serves me well in my cur- rent role as I am able to advise contrac- tors on which products are best for their particular application.


Where would you like to be in ten I’d like to think I would still be as moti-


vated so that I can make a difference to the type of service our customers receive whilst adding value to the sector I’m working within.


What ringtone / Sat Nav voice do you have? Ring Tone: Calypso. Sat Nav: Irish Lady


Mr Motivator: Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager of Manchester United FC


What advice would you give somebody wanting to em- bark on a career in the water sector?


The water industry is so varied and therefore provides a whole host of career opportunities – from sales, administra- tion, procurement and engineering, I would just tell them to go for it!


If you could change government legislation, what would you do and why?


I would like to see some sort of regulation introduced on fuel prices to stop the constant change of prices at the pumps.


colleagues?


What skill do you possess that would surprise your I am a keen DIY-er (or probably more ac-


curate to say a keen DIY disaster!). What has been your great- I would say that my greatest


est challenge?


challenge has been estab- lishing BSS industrial as a credible supplier into the water industry.


What has been your greatest failure?


I think my wife would say that balancing my home and work life is my greatest


failure! What would you do to


combat the industry’s skills shortage?


I would like to see increased in-


vestment in training and a campaign to raise awareness of the lucrative careers that this industry does offer to young people.


Nick Clegg with Siemens apprentices


Siemens’ intake of UK ap- prentices will be 160 in Sep- tember 2012, double the figure hired last year, and for the first time in decades higher than that of graduates. Graduate intake has remained steady at around 100 per year, but the company is now recruiting similar levels of ap- prentices in the UK compared with Germany, where it has its global headquarters and an established, strong culture of apprenticeships. Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, on a visit to Siemens’ Gas Turbine Plant in Berlin, said: “This announcement is fantastic news. Apprentice- ships


give young people an invaluable opportunity to learn on the job and allow em- ployers like Siemens to build a workforce with the practical skills their business needs.” Roland Aurich, CEO of Sie- mens plc and North West Eu- rope, said: “Creating indus- try-ready skills and giving the


confidence of aspiration to young people from all walks of life, is critical to address the serious skills shortage we face in industry.” Siemens’ new intake of UK apprentices will be based at offices and factories around the UK. Toby Peyton-Jones, direc- tor of Human Resources at Siemens plc and North West Europe said: “We see ap- prenticeships as a great career path that can lead all the way to the top.”


Targeting school leavers with A-Levels, Higher Ap- prenticeships offer a viable and affordable alternative to university. Siemens will intro- duce these new qualifications from September, offering the opportunity to progress onto Bachelor of Engineering courses.


Siemens is still recruiting for UK apprenticeship includ- ing Higher Apprenticeship and graduate positions start- ing this autumn.


PEOPLEMOVES 2012


The defi nitive guide to the UK water industry, its people, regulators and associated organisations.


• A complete guide to water industry suppliers in the UK


• An invaluable source of information about all UK water and wastewater service providers


• Biographies of more than 200 prominent industry fi gures


Who’s who in the water industry


Multiple copy discount available PRICE £64 Who’s who in the


water industry 2012 is now available


Order your copy now


priced just £64, including P&P, by contacting the


circulation department on 020 8651 7160 or e-mail


whoswho@fav-house.com or order online at


www.fhgmedia.com/shop


A Water UK publication published by FHG


Donald “Willie” MacDiarmid has become a non-executive director at May Gurney Integrated Services. MacDiarmid has had a long and distinguished business career to date, most recently as an adviser to utilities organisations in Europe and Africa.


Shirel Stedman, director of Central and Local Government Partnerships within AECOM’s Europe water practice, has been appointed for a second term as a committee member on the Trent Regional Flood and Coastal Committee (RFCC). The RFCC covers the catchment of the River Trent.


Simon Baker is now business director at MWH, heading up its Industry division, which provides comprehensive environmental risk management services. Baker brings exten- sive resource efficiency experience to MWH, including the management of water and


wastewater within industrial plants.


Keith Hayward is now national sales and mar- keting manager at Hydro International’s UK Wastewater Division. Hayward, a sales and marketing professional with more than 25 years’ experience in senior managerial roles, takes up the newly-created post with a brief to


grow the UK Wastewater’s business in municipal and indus- trial markets.


Sponsored by www.anglo.com


Siemens recruits


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28