Mr Sparks retires from electricity industry
A Surrey power veteran who trained thousands of electricity workers in skills that keep power flowing to millions of households is stepping down after four decades.
UK Power Networks’ head of technical training and assurance, Dudley Sparks, 59, from Dorking, is bowing out after 43 years in key roles at the regional electricity network operator, leaving an enduring legacy of technical training excellence.
Dudley is passionate about apprenticeships and the pinnacle of his career was returning to run the training team which gave him his career break as a teenager. In 1981, as an apprentice cable jointer, he was told ‘with a name like yours, you might just have a bright future’, and so it proved!
Dudley qualified as a cable jointer, became a power maintenance engineer and put colleagues safely to work on the electricity network up to 132,000-volts. He was a senior protection and commissioning engineer and became the company’s designated engineer, responsible for UK Power Networks’ distribution safety rules.
Under his watch, an astounding number of apprentices and engineers gained skills to become qualified engineers, electricity linespeople, cable jointers and substation fitters. Thousands of seasoned field staff regularly refresh their technical skills through Dudley’s training department to maintain safe, reliable power supplies.
Dudley said: “I have had a cracking career, and it has been a fantastic experience helping others to realise their full potential. I have trained an awful lot of people as head of training and there are a lot of colleagues whose careers I’m very proud of.
“I want my passion for apprenticeships to continue, enabling others to progress and develop in their careers as they would like. As someone who didn’t pass their English exam at school, I wrote important policy documents and represented the company nationally. If I can do it, others can too, with the same drive and determination.
“I couldn’t stand public speaking so I am proud of going out of my comfort zone, presenting to rooms of 500 people at conferences, sharing a stage with Sir Ranulph Fiennes.
“I have worked with fantastic people who enabled me to progress. I couldn’t have succeeded in my career without the support of engineers and managers I met along the way. You can have as much drive as you want, but without support it becomes hard.”
Jeff Gilbert, lead field engineer at UK Power Networks said: “Dudley gave me the opportunity to change direction in my career. I probably wouldn’t have become an engineer without his support. He took me under his wing and gave me the opportunity to become a commissioning engineer through UK Power Networks’ Engineering Development Programme.
“I had no engineering qualifications when I met Dudley and he gave me all the support and training opportunities you could want from a manager. With his support, I have a first-class degree in electrical engineering and I’m a senior authorised person. Dudley gave me the foundations for my career. He is very good at encouraging people to do things they probably don’t think they can do, because they know they will get his support.
“Dudley is one of those people who has been genuinely inspiring and had an impact on a lot of people’s lives. He has done very well and helped so many people.”
Stephen Barrett, director of membership and strategic engagement at Energy and Utility Skills said: “Dudley has been engaged with Energy & Utility Skills for almost seven years, bringing commitment to excellence through projects like the National Skills Academy for Power’s (NSAP) Competency Accord. His unique blend of dedication and wealth of knowledge provided great insights as to what apprentices and staff on the tools are dealing with on a day-to-day basis.
“Always the pragmatist, Dudley represented UK Power Networks on several forums including the EUSP Delivery Board and the NSAP Strategic Steering Group and Transmission and Distribution group, where he contributed effectively for many years. On behalf of Energy & Utility Skills we thank Dudley for all he has done and wish him the best for a long and restful retirement.”
In 2021 Dudley was honoured for his long service to the electricity industry by UK Power Networks and joined the special 40-plus club to celebrate his success.
Dudley and his wife Sandra, who have a son Sam and daughter Kathryn, will be moving to Cornwall in their retirement.
Published: 27/03/2024
UK Power Networks’ head of technical training and assurance, Dudley Sparks, 59, from Dorking, is bowing out after 43 years in key roles at the regional electricity network operator, leaving an enduring legacy of technical training excellence.
Dudley is passionate about apprenticeships and the pinnacle of his career was returning to run the training team which gave him his career break as a teenager. In 1981, as an apprentice cable jointer, he was told ‘with a name like yours, you might just have a bright future’, and so it proved!
Dudley qualified as a cable jointer, became a power maintenance engineer and put colleagues safely to work on the electricity network up to 132,000-volts. He was a senior protection and commissioning engineer and became the company’s designated engineer, responsible for UK Power Networks’ distribution safety rules.
Under his watch, an astounding number of apprentices and engineers gained skills to become qualified engineers, electricity linespeople, cable jointers and substation fitters. Thousands of seasoned field staff regularly refresh their technical skills through Dudley’s training department to maintain safe, reliable power supplies.
Dudley said: “I have had a cracking career, and it has been a fantastic experience helping others to realise their full potential. I have trained an awful lot of people as head of training and there are a lot of colleagues whose careers I’m very proud of.
“I want my passion for apprenticeships to continue, enabling others to progress and develop in their careers as they would like. As someone who didn’t pass their English exam at school, I wrote important policy documents and represented the company nationally. If I can do it, others can too, with the same drive and determination.
“I couldn’t stand public speaking so I am proud of going out of my comfort zone, presenting to rooms of 500 people at conferences, sharing a stage with Sir Ranulph Fiennes.
“I have worked with fantastic people who enabled me to progress. I couldn’t have succeeded in my career without the support of engineers and managers I met along the way. You can have as much drive as you want, but without support it becomes hard.”
Jeff Gilbert, lead field engineer at UK Power Networks said: “Dudley gave me the opportunity to change direction in my career. I probably wouldn’t have become an engineer without his support. He took me under his wing and gave me the opportunity to become a commissioning engineer through UK Power Networks’ Engineering Development Programme.
“I had no engineering qualifications when I met Dudley and he gave me all the support and training opportunities you could want from a manager. With his support, I have a first-class degree in electrical engineering and I’m a senior authorised person. Dudley gave me the foundations for my career. He is very good at encouraging people to do things they probably don’t think they can do, because they know they will get his support.
“Dudley is one of those people who has been genuinely inspiring and had an impact on a lot of people’s lives. He has done very well and helped so many people.”
Stephen Barrett, director of membership and strategic engagement at Energy and Utility Skills said: “Dudley has been engaged with Energy & Utility Skills for almost seven years, bringing commitment to excellence through projects like the National Skills Academy for Power’s (NSAP) Competency Accord. His unique blend of dedication and wealth of knowledge provided great insights as to what apprentices and staff on the tools are dealing with on a day-to-day basis.
“Always the pragmatist, Dudley represented UK Power Networks on several forums including the EUSP Delivery Board and the NSAP Strategic Steering Group and Transmission and Distribution group, where he contributed effectively for many years. On behalf of Energy & Utility Skills we thank Dudley for all he has done and wish him the best for a long and restful retirement.”
In 2021 Dudley was honoured for his long service to the electricity industry by UK Power Networks and joined the special 40-plus club to celebrate his success.
Dudley and his wife Sandra, who have a son Sam and daughter Kathryn, will be moving to Cornwall in their retirement.
Published: 27/03/2024