Based in our Irlam office, Mel has been working at Waldeck since 2023, joining the business at the age of 21 as a Graduate Mechanical Engineer.
We caught up with Mel to hear more about their Early Careers Development Programme journey so far:
Hi Mel! What has your education journey been like so far?
My education journey I took as a step-by-step process to get to where I am today. I never really had a grand plan to be an engineer but at each decision point from high school to sixth form to university it became clearer that’s what I wanted to do. At A Level I studied Maths, Further Maths and Physics because it was what I was good at and had an interest in.
However, due to my choices I was offered the chance to undertake an extracurricular engineering program, getting the chance to work with engineers from the National Nuclear Laboratory. It was taking part in this that led me to want to become an engineer. I explored the options of apprenticeships/degree apprenticeships/standard degrees and chose to study Mechanical Engineering at the University of Manchester because I wasn’t ready to pick a specialism and wanted to continue to explore all areas of mechanical engineering.
What are some of the most interesting projects you’ve worked on?
I’ve been really lucky to have a lot of variety in my work over the last 15 months, getting to work on plenty of different projects and also a large variety of different types of tasks. Some projects that stick out are getting to be involved in some of the thermal modelling for the Morson Group itself, diving into modelling the Adamson House building on my very first week! More recently I’ve been more heavily involved in our work on the University of Huddersfield Southgate 2 Building, where I’ve had the chance to get really stuck into not only the design but also the management of the project. I’ve worked closely with the mechanical lead on the project, Luke Mitchell, to undertake many of the design calculations, be involved in equipment selections and to be involved in interactions with the wider design team / client. I’ve also had the chance to take on more responsibility in representing Waldeck at meetings and deputizing for Luke whilst he had some time off. It’s been a real learning curve which has kept the work very interesting!
What motivates you in your work?
What I’ve found really motivating working for Waldeck is just wanting to do a good job as part of this team. I’ve always been motivated to deliver the best work I can, whatever I’m doing, to be representing myself well in whatever I do but now that extends further to wanting to represent the team well. I want to be part of growing Waldeck, producing high quality work and continuing to get the opportunities to be part of interesting projects!
How does the company support your professional growth and development?
The whole Waldeck M&E team were extremely welcoming and supportive from day one of joining last year. I’ve been able to work with everyone in the team and I think every single person has taught me something new. Adam (Director) and Luke (Associate Director) in particular have supported my development by ensuring that I have had the opportunity, like I said earlier, to take on a lot of different tasks. This has allowed to expand my skills and knowledge through experience very quickly.
I have also been able to take part in the Early Careers Development Program which has been a valuable resource to start thinking about my further development. My mentor, Rob, has given me a lot of valuable advice, and helped me to understand how I might progress my career and what I need to do to get there. The company also covers the cost of my Graduate membership with CIBSE which has allowed me to access valuable resources. I keep up with the latest information by reading the CIBSE journal and I’m hoping to start attending CIBSE events to expand my network!
What are your career aspirations for the next five years?
I feel I’ve learned a lot in a short time in my first year on the job and I’d like to continue on that path! As part of the ECDP I have started my journey to chartership with CIBSE. Having already achieved the necessary academic qualifications, my focus for the next few years is to continue to work towards the necessary ‘engineering competencies’. This will involve expanding my skills and making sure I get the right opportunities to gain the necessary experience and evidence of these competencies. Of course, besides ticking those boxes I have a personal interest in learning to manage projects and people and love learning new skills and information, so the goal is to be taking charge of some projects of my own as soon as possible!
What tips would you give to others starting out in industry?
A difficulty I’ve faced whilst getting starting has been being based in a different office to most of the team. I’ve been able to manage this by keeping in close contact with others by making use of Teams, commuting to Sheffield etc, but if you have the opportunity, make an effort to be in the office and around those conversations. There’s a lot to learn from listening in to conversations and questions around the office. Where possible, take time to ask deeper questions and read around things, not just doing the minimum to complete a task. Reading things like the CIBSE Journal and attending CPD seminars has been really valuable to continue to expand my technical knowledge which is key to becoming a better building services engineer!
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Outside of work, rugby league has been a large part of my life in the last few years. I played during my time at university, taking part in the committee and generally spent a great deal of time with my teammates! I’m also a big Wigan Warriors fan so make sure to catch their games on TV or when possible, in person when visiting Wigan / family!
Find out more about Early Careers Development Programme here>