It’s usually celebrities and sports stars that are recognised in the New Year Honours list.
So SSE’s very own Mike Till was delighted to receive an MBE for services to the energy sector and the community in Castleford nearby where he works at Ferrybridge.
But after 50 years distinguished service in the energy sector it was no less than Mike deserved. He’s worked at power stations all over the UK and most recently on one of the largest and most successful European Carbon Capture Research and Development Pilot projects as Plant Operations Manager at Ferrybridge.
Mike has received congratulations from DECC and prominent figures in the local community, but it’s been the warm words from family, friends and colleagues that have meant the most.
Mike Till said: “It was wonderful to receive the Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE). It’s not something I achieved singlehandedly as the support from colleagues who have acted as unwitting and unofficial career mentors has been fantastic.”
“I also owe a good deal to my wife, Lynne and family, who have had to endure the frequent upheaval of moving around the countryside and the strange working hours as my career has twisted and turned.”
Mike completes 50 years of service in the electricity supply industry this year. As Plant Operations Manager, he was responsible for steering the largest European Carbon Capture Research and Development Pilot at Ferrybridge with support from DECC and project Partners, Doosan Babcock and Vattenfall.
Mike added: “Although the project has now come to an end and the plant de-constructed - some have said we were 10 years ahead of our time - the data and skills perfected means that significant scale-up is possible.
“It has supported SSE with its Peterhead Carbon Capture retrofit project and helped all partner companies and DECC develop a wider understanding of the process placing them at the forefront of this innovative technology.”
And has life changed for Mike since getting his MBE? “Not really,” he adds. “In fact I’m sure none of my neighbours have picked it up yet. It’s very much business as usual.”