It’s a pleasure to work instead of an effort.

Jon Bower, 34, was born and bred in Hull, and is one of our Electrical Supervisors at KWL. He has been with the company now for over 18 years.

He is chiefly in charge of overseeing the day-to-day electrical R&M (repairs and maintenance). Occasionally, he works with smoke alarms, ventilation and re-wires as he says: “we all chip in as a team to get the job done.”

Prior to joining KWL, Jon applied for three apprentice positions with Hull City Council: electrician, plumber and gas fitter. After a short exam and an interview he was contacted the same day and asked which of the roles he would prefer – he chose to be an electrician and began his 4 year apprenticeship in July 2002.

Getting on well in the job and with his team, Jon was appointed as a temporary supervisor on the Decent Homes Project in 2009. A pleasant surprise to him at the time, he was then made permanent.

Last year, he shifted his current role from the electrical team to the planned works section to continue to develop his skills further and bring his knowledge to another area of the business.

He was at one point offered a senior supervisor role working on R&M, but after discussions with higher levels of management, he chose to complete the project he had already been set on Planned Works before moving into another role. He explains:

“For me, it was just the wrong timing – I had already been set a goal on the Planned Works section and wanted to see the job through, rather than leaving a task half done. Support was given by KWL on my decision, and this is certainly the direction I would like to move up within the business.

“Jobs at KWL are in demand locally – lots of people want to work here. As a large employer, KWL offers great job security, plus it’s a great atmosphere and a pleasure to come to work instead of an effort. The job does challenge me and we are expected to work to KPI’s and deadlines etc., but we get rewarded for doing a good job.

“My team continued to work through lockdown but there was a definite change in pace. We kept in regular contact with our operatives – reassuring them about their roles and ensuring all of the safety procedures were in place. We have to carry out a lot of safety checks before any work is carried out, along with risk assessments, safety tours and obviously we wear the correct PPE.”

Outside of work, Jon primarily spends time with his family – he has a son aged 7, and a daughter, age 5. He used to love playing rugby and even though he no longer plays himself, he now takes his son training and looks forward to watching him play matches.

He also supports his local super league team – Hull Kingston Rovers.