Pierre Potel

Name: Pierre Potel
Age: 28
Born: France
Lived in Scotland: 10 months

French-born Pierre Potel regularly does something few native Scots would care to try even once. He goes snorkelling in the Firth of Forth.

Pierre looks quizzical and gives a Gallic shrug.

"Sure, I get in the water. Of course, I have to check that things are working."

But wasn’t it a little bit cold?

"Okay, yes, when I went in the winter it was freezing cold. But you know, I’m not scuba diving, just with a snorkel and mask."

Docks

The reason Pierre has been taking a dip in the docks is to work on a new wave energy device being developed by Ocean Power Delivery Ltd, a Scottish engineering firm with a bright future.

"I had been working at a company that makes wave machines for testing boats. Of course the experience I got there is useful to a company making a wave energy capture device and everything in this industry is linked."

Responsibility

Pierre admits that he didn’t know much about Scotland before he moved here.

"I would definitely recommend working in Scotland. It’s easy to get a job with lots of responsibility.

"Working in France, I found you have to know your place. It takes a long time to get responsibility. Here, if you want to have responsibility, you can have it.

"Where I work, it’s a small company, and they let people try. So you progress very quickly."

Reputation

"It sounds strange, and maybe I should have known more before I came here, but I didn’t really know about Scotland’s reputation for engineering. Now I know that Scotland is famous all over the world for good engineering. It will be good for me to say I have been an engineer in Scotland."

Pierre is obviously excited by the cutting edge device he’s involved in creating.

Leading the market

"There are a few different types of machine being developed around the world – wave power, tidal power. But you know, what we’re doing is leading the market so we don’t know who our competitors will be.

"At the moment we’re working on the full-scale prototype. There have been sea trials so now we’re making sure it’s all okay before it goes to Orkney. Then we find out how it survives over time, in real elements."

Orkney

The system will be towed to the test centre in Orkney and attached to the seabed.

"Then we inspect it all again, after one month. And we see how long it can generate electricity."

Pierre smiles: "Of course, everyone is waiting to see how well it works. The Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise are really keen to make Scotland a global leader in wave power.

"I hope if the company expands there will be opportunities to develop wave farms in other parts of the world."

Party

But Pierre’s not ready to leave Scotland just yet.

"I lived in Bristol for a while but it’s much better here. It’s so easy to get to the countryside. Recently I sailed with a friend from France all the way to Oban, Ullapool and Mull. Amazing.

"In Scotland, people are quick to make a party in the street, a festival. In France it’s much more formal."

Insider Info

Pierre says: "Visit the west coast but watch out for the midges!"

Find out more about the progress of Ocean Power Delivery’s Pelamis at www.oceanpd.com

 French Nationals love Glasgow  Glasgow Acceuil