Can you describe your role and what a typical week looks like?

My role as a Director is mainly about being a coach and mentor. It’s about helping and guiding others, and guiding the business, as opposed to really ‘doing the doing’. Although I still try to find the odd bit I can get involved in, because I’m very much still an engineer.

There’s no such thing as a typical week. There’ll usually be some sales and business development, talking to clients and potential clients and general business stuff. Then it’s working with the teams day-to-day, staying in touch, knowing what’s going on and helping out where I can.

How did your career journey lead you to becoming a director at Eadon?

Every time I made a career move, I moved to a smaller organisation. I started in the civil service, then went to an automotive consultancy called Ricardo, which was around 400-500 people, and then to a company with a team of about 25. For me, it was about having a more direct impact on the work I was doing and how it was delivered. The natural progression of that was starting Eadon, where I have a very direct impact on what we do and how we do it.

What sparked your interest in engineering?

I’ve always been an engineer, probably from the age of one! My dad’s an engineer, my brother’s an engineer and growing up, we were always building things. I was more focused on the mechanical side – building model aeroplanes and rockets – whatever it might be, there was always something being made! It was never really a question of whether I’d go into engineering, but more about what type I’d do. Keeping that interest is easy. There are so many new challenges that need solving, and the pace of change means there’s always something new to learn. I just wish I had more time to learn more.

What do you find most rewarding about your role?

It’s when we deliver a really good piece of work as a team. You can see how everyone has contributed to making it happen, and when it’s finished and handed over, that’s really satisfying.

What sets Eadon’s approach apart? 

It’s the way we work with our clients. We are genuinely collaborative. We don’t like work being ‘chucked over the fence’ for us to go away and do. We want to understand what the client really needs and why, so that what we deliver actually solves the problem, not just ticks a box.

What do you like most about the team at Eadon?

They’re amazing. I always feel supported. Whether it’s technical, development or learning, there’s always someone willing to step in and help.

Is there a project you’ve worked on at Eadon that stands out as a highlight? 

The ROV garage work stands out. I look back on that with really fond memories. They were new clients, so it involved building relationships, learning new things, and tackling some challenging problems where the solution wasn’t obvious. I also love that I got to see it all the way through from initial concepts on a screen to detailed manufacturing drawings, and then into build and test. That end-to-end involvement made it really rewarding.

What kinds of engineering challenges do you enjoy most?

Really hard ones – the more challenging, the better. I enjoy problems where the answer isn’t obvious and it takes real effort to figure it out.

How do you approach complex problems?

There’s a phrase I like – ‘naive optimism’. It’s about accepting you don’t have all the answers straight away and focusing on the next step. You do one step, then the next, and keep going. You don’t know exactly how you’ll get there, but you know you’ll find a way.

What challenges is the engineering industry currently facing?

Bringing in graduates and new entrants is a big one. The jobs market is tough at the moment, and that’s having an impact. If we don’t bring in new skills and ideas, that will become a bigger issue over time – even if we don’t feel the full effect for another 10 to 15 years.

How do you see engineering consultancies like Eadon evolving?

The pace of technology is going to drive change. We’ll need to keep up with new developments and adapt quickly.

What emerging technologies will shape the future?

Robotics and artificial intelligence are going to have a big impact. It’s about understanding what they can do and making sure we, and our clients, are using them effectively.

Is there a key lesson that shapes how you work?

Being honest and genuine. It makes everything easier, and people respond to it. It’s far better to be open and say things as they are.

What do you enjoy outside of work?

Being outside is important to me. Whether that’s a quick stroll in a local park or heading out to the Peak District for a long walk.

And then it’s doing what I did with my Dad as a child, but now with my sons – building model rockets, making things, even building small fighting robots and competing with them. So even at home and in my spare time, I’m still doing engineering!