Two energy workers in east London have graduated with a foundation degree in power distribution from the Southbank University while managing their day jobs.
Matthew Tyler and Oliver Bienkowski have got through 20 exams in power distribution, maths, electrical engineering and physics while working for UK Power Networks’ West Ham depot.
They received their certificates at a Royal Festival Hall graduation ceremony with engineering graduates from all over the South East.
Matthew, 31, joined UK Power as an apprentice in 2007 after studying fine arts at university when he had a change of heart part-way through the course.
His workmate Oliver, 26, joined in 2010 to enrol on the company’s engineering programme after studying physics at Nottingham University.
The company keeps the lights on for eight million homes and businesses in London, the South East and the East of England with a 5,500 workforce running 130,000 substations.
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