Meet Gerry - Supporting Customers
Behind the Scenes
13 June 2025
At our Development Centres, innovation is part of our everyday work. Behind every trial, test rig, and breakthrough is a team of dedicated people making it all happen. One of those people has been quietly shaping the future for years – and it’s time we introduced you.
Meet Gerry, Senior Operator, working behind the scenes to support the development of innovative new water and waste water technologies and treatment solutions.
From Coal Mines to Cutting-Edge
Gerry’s journey is nothing short of remarkable. He left St Patrick’s High School in Coatbridge in 1980 and headed straight to work at the Bedlay Colliery Coal Mine. As the industry shifted, Gerry adapted – moving from mine to mine, even weathering the 1984 miners’ strike – until the closure of Longannet, Scotland’s last coal mine, in 2002.
But Gerry wasn’t done. He transitioned into Glasgow’s industrial sector, working in several factories including the well-known Devro Sausage Factory, before stepping into the environmental space in 2008 with Scottish Water Horizons.
Laying the Groundwork
Gerry joined as an Operator at our brand-new Bioresources Centre, managing green waste composting. He quickly became a key figure in launching our Anaerobic Digestion Facility – turning food waste into renewable biogas – and helped kick-start our aggregates processing operations. His instinct for hands-on problem-solving quickly became one of the team’s biggest assets.
The real turning point came in 2017, when Gerry joined our newly formed Development Centre Team, assisting companies and academia to test and validate new water and waste water innovations where he found his stride.
Driving Innovation, Quietly
Back then, the team was small and the setup simple. Today, it’s a different story. Our Development Centre at Bo’ness for example, now features seven individual testing stations capable of drawing flow from every part of the treatment process – from raw sewage to final effluent – without disrupting operations.
Gerry’s role? Making sure it all works. Now a Senior Operator, Gerry supports academic partners and start-ups, helping test and refine technologies before they’re rolled out in the field. Some of the solutions he’s helped shape are now being used across the country.
In the Highlands, he also played a vital role in transforming a redundant membrane facility near Loch Ness into our Water Development Centre and home to our Membrane Training Academy – Europe’s first offline, immersive training course in membrane technology. The facility now trains operational and process employees using custom-built rigs, hands-on sessions, and classroom learning – and is soon to be launched externally.
The Heart of the Team
Gerry may not seek the spotlight, but for the past 17 years, he’s been a cornerstone of our progress – and the friendly face working alongside many happy customers and partners.
He’s also mentored apprentices into permanent roles, supported project managers into senior positions, and helped shape the future of our sector.
Why We’re Sharing His Story Now
As we grow our partnerships and continue to drive progress in the industry, we want to celebrate the people behind the scenes. Gerry is one of those people – a steady hand, a trusted expert, and a valued part of the Development Centre story.
So next time you visit one of our test hubs or take part in a technology trial, keep an eye out for Gerry. He’s been here all along – quietly making big things happen.
