10 May 2007

Making an impact at AMEC

Michelle Minty (MENG Chemical Engineering with a Modern Language, 2003) now works as a process engineering for AMEC, the world-wide provider to the world`s infrastructure, manufacturing and process industries. She recently received one of AMEC's Chief Executive Young Achiever Award.

“This annual award scheme is intended to recognise outstanding personal achievement of employees who are still in the early stages of their careers. Its purpose is to encourage these young employees to take a broader perspective on how to enhance their careers and their contribution to the business, by providing opportunities for further learning and personal development. The scheme is open to eligible employees worldwide.”
(AMECnet)

The Chief Executive’s Young Achievers Award looks at achievements of young employees over and above their normal day-to-day duties. Candidates are required to demonstrate achievements in five areas:
• Innovation
• Ambassador for AMEC
• Academic/Professional
• Overcoming Disadvantage
• Other

I was nominated for this award by my line manager and asked to demonstrate that I have committed to the organisation outside of my normal work.

AMEC Great Yarmouth has an Office Safety Group (OSG) which acts as a liaison between employees and management on office safety issues. Members carry out regular safety audits to monitor the working environment and report anything of concern to the remainder of the Group during the bi-monthly meetings. I have been a member of the OSG for almost two years and have been involved in the recent rejuvenation of the Group’s image by contributing to the Terms of Reference, meeting agenda and promotional efforts. I have also been heavily involved in reviewing the current safety auditing process.

I was the Great Yarmouth Focal Point for the AMEC Lifelong SHE Initiative for a year, promoting safety through videos. I organised sessions to watch these videos several times a week and was able to provide colleagues with appropriate material for their own safety initiatives outside of these scheduled viewings.

I have been involved in graduate affairs, contributed to graduate welfare meetings and have recently been appointed the Graduate Focus Group Representative for Great Yarmouth.

Outside of the office, I have represented AMEC at a local high school’s Careers Fayre. With other graduates and trainees, I have organised accompanying displays to promote engineering in the oil and gas industry to students about to choose their GCSE options.

I have participated in two local Dragon boat races on the AMEC Great Yarmouth team to raise money for charity; one where I organised and captained the team.

The award pays up to £1,000 towards the cost of further development or an educational study trip. I chose to use the opportunity to visit another AMEC project and visited the AMEC Paragon offices in Houston, Texas. Paragon is a recent addition to the AMEC business and works on a range of oil, gas and pipeline projects. Visiting these offices was a good opportunity for me to see how another AMEC office operates, particularly with regards to winning new work, and also how Paragon employees and business culture was integrated with AMEC’s.