SP Group (SP) is a leading utilities group in the Asia Pacific. Serving 1.6 million industrial, commercial and residential customers in Singapore, the national grid operator upholds Singapore’s world-class grid reliability and is committed to enabling a low carbon, smart energy future through its suite of sustainable energy solutions in Singapore and the region.

SP’s scholars, engineers Joree Ong and Giles Ee, are part of the team that maintains our high-quality grid performance.

Electrical projects engineer Joree’s job entails providing electricity supply connection to customers’ premises and attending to emergency power supply disruptions. Gas projects engineer Giles’ role includes designing and implementing the construction of gas network infrastructure such as transmission pipelines and stations, and attending to requests for gas pipeline diversion and supply connections to customer premises.

We hear insights from both of them on their profession and what it means to be part of a team providing critical services.

Let’s start from the very beginning. What sparked your interest in engineering?

Joree: I have always been in awe of my father’s hands-on approach to repairing various equipment and devices at home. He was not an engineer, but he taught my siblings and me how to fix things instead of simply replacing them. This early exposure fuelled my interest in problem-solving and eventually choosing electrical engineering as my education and career path.

Giles: During my childhood, building LEGO and frequent visits to the Singapore Discovery Centre piqued my curiosity on how systems worked. I developed a desire to find creative solutions to tackle challenging issues. This naturally led me to pursue a Mechanical Engineering degree and to where I am today.

Why was SP Full-term Scholarship the right fit for you?

Joree: I was attracted to the opportunity to secure a job at SP before graduation. In addition, the allowance from the scholarship enabled me to travel overseas for exchange programmes and broaden my horizons. Overall, it was a boost to my engineering career where I could build my network and become a more well-rounded professional.

Giles: As a leading organisation in the energy sector, SP offers diverse exposure and growth in my field of interest. SP’s commitment to world-class network reliability, sustainability and community service also aligned with my personal values.

SP’s Engineering Development for Graduates (EDGE) Programme caught my attention as it offers structured and customised training to establish a strong engineering foundation. It also includes support for Professional Engineer certification during my career with the organisation.

Could you give us an overview of your responsibilities?

Joree: In my current role, I am responsible for the execution of projects to provide electricity supply connection to customers’ premises. This involves managing a team of technical officers and contractors. I also handle electricity network operations such as testing and commissioning of new equipment and circuits. My team and I also respond to outages that could take place any time of the day or night. One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is overcoming worksite challenges to meet stakeholders’ requirements.

Giles: I am currently an Executive Engineer in the Gas Transmission Projects. Our team is responsible for the construction and installation of network infrastructure such as gas transmission pipelines and metering stations, and supply connection to customers’ premises. In overseeing these projects, I work closely with contractors and consultants to deliver projects within budget and on schedule, while ensuring quality and safety standards are upheld.

What are some rewarding or challenging experiences you have had so far?

Joree: One of the more challenging projects involved an urgent request for electricity supply connection in the Marina South area. We had to make visits to the underground cable tunnel to locate the correct cable for connection purposes.

However, communication posed a huge challenge due to the lack of signal in the tunnel. To overcome this, we came up with a novel solution: creating a makeshift telephone line by tapping on one of our communication cables. This experience was both fascinating and a testament to the team’s resourcefulness!

Giles: Resolving project challenges with skills beyond the field of engineering! Being involved in planning, design and contract administration allowed me to develop competencies alongside my technical knowledge and to think critically when solving problems. It is also rewarding to see projects transition from planning to construction through team efforts.

Could you tell us about the growth opportunities at SP?

Joree: Employees have access to a diverse range of courses so that we can be equipped with future-ready skills. I am currently pursuing my Master of Science (Electrical Engineering) degree at the National University of Singapore (NUS), sponsored by SP.

Giles: We are encouraged to propose initiatives and take on new challenges to expand our skills, knowledge and exposure. This is backed by a wide range of training programmes available to us.

Beyond our core responsibilities, we have opportunities to take on appointments in work groups such as the SP Heart Workers volunteers committee and Recharge staff recreation committee. These help us to hone abilities beyond our work scope, and work with colleagues from other business units. We can grow at both personal and professional levels.

Giles, tell us more about SP Heart Workers.

I was a member of the SP Heart Workers committee, which is a team responsible for organising outreach activities with SP’s social service partners and encouraging staff to participate as volunteers. I worked with these partners to plan and execute various activities to support the needs of their clients – from seniors to children and youth. The activities our committee put together could be excursions to places of interest, grocery shopping, recreational activities like games and fitness, educational workshops or even festive celebrations.

The highlight of my experience was when I worked with KidSTART Singapore on an interactive play and carnival. It was part of a larger effort to encourage reading and bring stories to life. It was also an occasion to mark SP’s renewed commitment to KidSTART through a second donation of $1.1 million to support learning and developmental needs of pre-school children from low-income families.

Many of the kids and their families were attending a play for the first time. Knowing that I could play a part in creating wonderful memories for the children was a heartwarming experience.

For our readers aspiring to join SP, what do you want to say to them?

Joree: Don’t miss out on lifelong learning opportunities at SP. Stay open to new ideas and adapt to evolving circumstances. Remember, each person’s journey is unique. All the best as you choose your path!

Giles: I would encourage aspiring engineers to focus on developing a strong foundation in their respective engineering fields relevant to the company’s focus areas such as electricity and gas transmission and distribution, sustainable energy solutions and digital innovation. It is also important to cultivate skills such as project management, which are beneficial for large-scale projects requiring effective planning, coordination and execution.

In the course of our work, there are also opportunities to interact with industry experts, professional engineers, and equipment suppliers across multiple engineering disciplines and markets. Thus, it is important to adopt a growth mindset, ask questions, and learn from each other to pick up relevant skills and knowledge.