b'AUDITING DEPARTMENTI also share insights on potential challenges they may face andMental Wellness Month strategiesforhandlingsituationsIveencounteredduringmy extensive field experience. - Garys Story My daily tasks include conducting tooling, plant, and van checks accordingtoapre-plannedschedule.ThisinvolvesaccountingIn this segment we speak to Gary Miller (FTTP Field Manager), Gary was previously included in foralltoolsandplantonboardthevehicle,inspectingforanyour last issues notice board. With January being Mental wellness month Gary would like to share unreported damage, and ensuring the vehicle is fit for purpose. Ihis journey battling with addiction to show that you are not alone, and to give people the courage Paul ODonnel - Auditor also verify that the engineer has all necessary safety equipment andto reach out if they are struggling. that their uniform is presentable.I left school and began my career as an apprentice in a tweed factoryMy name is Gary Miller, I am the FTTP manager for Lancs & Mersey, Northern England. called McGees in Donegal, my hometown. From there, I movedThree years ago, in January, I decided Id had enough of living my life the way it was. I was battling an addiction that few knew about: into the civils industry, where I worked as a ganger, tarmacking foralcohol and cocaine. a resurfacing company also based in Donegal. In 1979, I moved toFor years I had lost all kinds through my addiction and always blamed other people. In December 2020 I was discharged from the London and began working on building sites, doing shutter striking,Royal Air Force due to failing a drugs test, and it still didnt click that I was ruled by an addiction I just thought I was a sociable person. bricklaying, and generally being a jack of all trades. I later joined Islington Council, where I worked on highway projects, includingWhen I got discharged I had nowhere to live and no job. SSAFA, the armed forces charity, found me a place to live and furnished it for relayingfootpaths,resettingkerbstones,andinstallingotherme back in my hometown of Runcorn. I reached out to The general street fixtures. Chris Ring - Auditor Networker to share my story for two reasons: In 1992, I joined Kelly Group as a civil operator, initially workingrst, to support my ontheCableLondoncontractandlatertransferringtotheIm originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, and moved to the UKfundraising e\x05orts, and highways contract, where we completed installations for ANPRin 2012. I joined the company at the beginning of 2019 as a coppersecond, to show anyone sites, emergency telephones, and CCTV on motorways. Over myengineer. struggling in silence that career at Kelly Group, Ive also worked on the Verizon contracta better life free from and various others. Although my entire time at Kelly Group hasIn 2021, I became part of the New to Field (NTF) support team asaddiction is not only been a valuable experience, my favourite period was working as aa coach under Neville Edmead. My role involved visiting new-to- possible but within reach. Civils Supervisor on the Virgin Media contract in London. This rolefield engineers to provide support, conduct onsite audits, gather helped me develop key management skills that have supported my progression into other roles within the business. feedbackontheirtrainingandbuddyprocessandforwardanyIn February 2021I joined Kelly Group but continued to struggleSo, if you are reading this and you have had enough of concerns they had. The primary focus was to ensure they werewith alcohol and drugs. the misery alcohol brings your life and the su\x08ering it adjusting well to working independently in the field. In May 2023, creates for your mental health and you want a better life MyjourneyintotheauditindustrybeganafteracontractII transitioned to the auditing team. I woke up on the 28 January 2022 and I had well and truly had supervised in the southeast concluded. The audit team was formedenough of that life, I reached out to a recovery service, and Ifor yourself and your family then reach out, message me in toserveasasupportfunctionforotherdivisions,accountingWhat I enjoy most about my role is supporting engineers in areascommitted I would never touch another drop of alcohol or drug incondence and I can chat to you to assure you that there my life. I spent 7 months in recovery until I was stable enough to go fortoolingandplant,andprovidingindependentsiteauditstoof health, safety, and work quality. I can understand that havingit alone, when reaching out I was still living in the little at SSAFAis nothing to lose and everything to gain. giveseniormanagementanobjectiveviewoftheirrespectivean auditor show up on-site may not be an engineers favouriteprovided for me I had nothing, basically a at and a job. Since I got- Gary Miller workstreams. sober, I have found a partner who is now my wife, we have bought moment, but occasionally, a reminder of potential riskshoweverour home, we have had a baby and I am also the manager in a job IClick the button below to support Gary unlikelyis essential. Shortcuts taken in the field can jeopardisewas about to lose as an engineer, my life is a million miles away fromraise for the SSAFA, the What I enjoy most about my role is meeting new crews fresh fromnot only safety but also the engineers ability to go home safely atwhat it used to be Armed Forces charity the training school. the end of the day and return to work the next.18 months ago, I started running, and its a dream for me to run the London Marathon. Next year I have a place but for me to full my My daily responsibilities include conducting tooling audits on kitsdream I need to raise 2500 for SSAFA, the armed forces charity. I chose them as they helped me when nobody else would or could. assigned to engineers, performing van checks, conducting onsite I sharetipstoeasetheirtransitionintohealth and safety audits, retro-quality audits, and reporting myMy Just Giving page is attached so if you could be so kind as to donate anything big or small I would be truly grateful. engineeringandguidetheminbuildingafindings. DONATEsustainable, long-term career.18 .The Networker Issue 15'