My clean energy ambitions: Reece’s Story

Meet Reece Weldrake, one of the newest members of our team. Based in Teesside, he joined Kellas as a placement engineer in October 2023 through the Grayce graduate programme. He is part of our H2NorthEast low carbon hydrogen project, working closely with the project delivery team while furthering his knowledge and skills.

Reece’s career to date is an inspiring story of perseverance, embracing change and a determination to work on sustainable engineering solutions that can support the energy transition.

Tell us about your career journey so far.

I started out working as a scaffolder on a petrochemical site about 10 years ago and was intrigued by the towering infrastructure all around me. This sparked my interest in engineering and was the starting point for my future career aspirations. Having a speech impairment, I have always faced challenges in the classroom, but I was determined to pursue further education and three years later I graduated from Teesside University with a BEng in Civil Engineering.

At this point my studies took a turn towards sustainable engineering systems when I became aware of Kellas Midstream and the work the company is doing in low carbon hydrogen on Teesside. Kellas partners with the university to offer Clean Energy Scholarships and I was fortunate to be accepted onto the programme and secure funding for an MSc in Sustainable Engineering. As part of my course, I completed a project entitled The Integration of Renewable Energy Sources with Hydrogen Production for Net Zero Energy Systems by the year 2030 – this gave me a solid understanding of the challenges and opportunities that exist with the transition to net zero which are very much aligned with my role on the H2NorthEast project.

Between my civil engineering graduation and MSc commencement, I also completed a summer placement as a geotechnical engineer that helped to bridge the gap between theory and application.

Now, as a graduate engineer at Kellas, I can see first-hand the company's dedication to sustainability and innovation that are contributing to H2NorthEast, one of the largest low carbon hydrogen developments in the UK.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Each day at Kellas brings new experiences, from travelling to London to work alongside industry professionals, to learning and collaborating in project meetings. I really enjoyed representing H2NorthEast onsite for ground investigation works, overseeing site queries and reporting progress.

What has been your highlight so far working at Kellas?

Despite initial nervousness due to my speech impairment, Kellas has proved to be a supportive and inclusive environment. On one occasion I was able to overcome my fear of public speaking and gave a ‘My Journey’ presentation to a team of colleagues, showcasing the encouraging atmosphere at Kellas.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I enjoy spending the weekends my family and kids, freshwater swimming, and the occasional flying lesson as I’m working towards earning my Private Pilot License by the end of 2025.

Quick fire questions…

Favorite Food: Italian, although nothing beats the Teesside Parmo!

Last movie I watched: Cruella

Hidden Talent: Knowledgeable about aviation, without being qualified

What did I want to be when I was young: Airline Pilot

Most used emoji: 🤣

Best place I’ve travelled to: Venice