People powered profile: Antony Smith

For the latest instalment of Astute’s People Powered Profile series, Kevin Over, Head of Power recruitment, spoke with Antony Smith, Founder and Managing Director of W2E-UK LTD about his career in the energy sector.

Can you tell us a bit about your career journey so far?

I began my engineering career in 1998, joining the Royal Navy as an Artificer Apprentice. 

As a Marine Engineer, I gained experience in several roles from electrical systems and power generation to refrigeration and gas turbines. 

On leaving the Royal Navy in 2006 I had a brief spell working at GCHQ before entering the power/energy sector as a Commissioning Engineer/Control Room Operator on a new build EfW.

I spent five years as an EfW Plant Manager with Veolia before joining Stantec as UK General Manager for their Waste to Energy operations. 

In 2019 I ventured out on my own, setting up W2E-UK, a specialist engineering and technical consultancy.

What are some of the projects/power stations you’ve been involved in?

My first role was on a DEFRA demonstrator project using pyrolysis to convert waste to gas. 

I then spent five years at Sheffield ERF with Veolia as Plant Manager. 

With Stantec, I set up O&M teams across Tyseley, Welland and Ince Park biomass power plants. 

Latterly, as an independent consultant and engineering services provider, I tend to support more challenging projects and clients without large engineering teams, so I’ve been involved in Energy Works (Hull), Derby EfW, Isle of Wight EfW, Tansterne Biomass and have also carried out O&M reviews and due diligence for various clients. 

Recently I’ve also become involved in National Grid gas compressor station upgrades.

How much has the industry changed during your years within it?

The power industry has undergone significant change, with a transition away from fossil fuels towards increasingly more renewable power generation. 

This has created many opportunities for employment in renewables development, operation and maintenance. 

At the same time, we continue to be reliant upon more traditional generation via gas and nuclear and these stations also provide some great opportunities with either life extension or new build and in O&M where you tend to find an experienced workforce with many approaching retirement.

What are some of the biggest challenges the industry is facing?

Technically, plants are being driven to reduce emissions and in particular Carbon and particulate emissions – this pushes owners and operators to implement improved operating regimes or to adopt new technologies to counter these emissions (such as PM2.5 filtration and carbon capture). 

There are also challenges around retaining experienced staff and developing team members as many of the ex-power station operators approach retirement.

What are some of the skill sets you’re seeing high demand for in the power sector? 

I see high demand for good people in all areas of the power sector, particularly in both operations and maintenance management and high-quality controls and instrument technicians. 

With experienced managers moving on, it can be difficult to find a good mix of technical, people, operational and commercial management skills. 

What do you enjoy most about working in the industry?

I think it’s the variety – from the technical and engineering-based elements to the operational and logistical aspects, alongside all the safety and environmental compliance requirements – no day is ever the same.

Also, the people you get the opportunity to meet and work with – it’s a smallish community so you get to form great networks.

What advice would you give your younger self as you embarked upon your career?

Take any opportunities which come along with both hands – you never know where they might lead you.

Use any challenges or setbacks as learning opportunities and try to absorb as much knowledge as you can from those with good experience around you.

Always keep moving forward.

Would you like to join Antony Smith and be featured as Astute’s next guest in our People Powered Profile series?

If, like Antony Smith, you’d like to be featured in Astute’s People Powered Profile series and discuss your career, please contact Kevin Over directly via email or LinkedIn.