BUILDING WHAT COMES NEXT
Local talent returning home –( left-right) Liam Gooding, GE
Vernova; Matthew Nichol,
Technip Energies and Steve Fishlock, Balfour Beatty. PICTURE: CHRIS BOOTH
multi-billion-dollar natural gas liquids plant- the newest piece of infrastructure in Iraq in 40 years. Yet, success came at a personal cost.
He said:“ Working away from home was incredibly rewarding, but I missed my family. Having worked away throughout my eldest son’ s childhood- I used to be away six months of the year- it ultimately shaped my decision to look for opportunities at home.”
The scale of the NZT Power-NEP project presented the perfect opportunity to return.
Matthew said: " This project is what brought me home, somewhere I am familiar with that could turn the tide. We aim to bring this back to the glory days.
“ Being home for my family has been the most rewarding part. Now, I am head coach at Darlington RUFC Under- 10s. I can be present for sports days, I never miss a rugby game, and we have breakfast and dinner together as a family. I missed that with my eldest son growing up. It confirms this as the best decision I have ever made."
Matthew ' s return has even inspired others.
He said: " The optics of the project are huge. I share updates on LinkedIn and local people who are currently overseas reach out to me, looking for a job back home. People want to return to this area now.”
This is echoed across project teammates. Steve Fishlock, mechanical construction director at Balfour Beatty, was born on a farm near Middlesbrough and began his career in a local oil rig yard before moving to London and beyond to seize wider industry opportunities.
Steve said:“ I realised I had to seize opportunities that may not come round again, which gave me the foundation to move into management.
" But I’ m at the stage of life where I’ ve got grandchildren. I had been monitoring this project, so when Balfour Beatty was awarded it, it was an opportunity to get closer to home and take a much more active part in my family’ s life.”
For Steve, the project is a crucial vehicle for legacy.
He said:“ This is a massive opportunity for the local area- for the progression of skills and the passing on of trades. For carbon capture, this is the way forward for the country and this is the opportunity to show how successful it can be.”
Liam Gooding, senior environment, health and safety manager at GE Vernova, spent the last decade working on energy projects across the Middle East and Europe.
Like his colleagues, the pull of the project is deeply personal.
“ Growing up in Coatham, the steelworks were a constant presence- you could see, hear and smell the activity that defined our town," said Liam.
" When I left school, I followed in my father’ s footsteps and moved into industry. Coming full circle to work on this site feels incredibly significant.
“ While GE Vernova builds and operates gas-fired power stations all over the world, being selected to work on this specific project holds a very special place in my heart."
For these workers, large-scale projects like the NZT Power-NEP project are changing the perception of what is possible in the Tees Valley.
Liam said:“ It is an honour to be part of the team revitalising Redcar’ s industrial legacy while leading the charge toward energy security for the UK and a cleaner, more sustainable future. It feels great to be home."
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