As young people across Ireland open their Leaving Cert results, we explore the early careers routes available to the next generation of engineering talent.
In this #PeopleFirst interview we ask third-year Electrical Apprentice, Lennan Doyle, and Graduate Mechanical Engineer, Aisha Maida, the questions we are asked most by people exploring their early careers options.
They share their stories, advice and explore the training programmes available at Kirby:
What made you want to work in the sector?
Lennan: From a very young age I wanted to know how things worked; I would go with my dad to his shed to make small circuits. That’s the bit I love about engineering – you create a circuit, and once it’s complete you make the light come on. I now get to do that on a much bigger scale, being an Apprentice is hands on and rewarding.
Aisha: Science has always been interesting to me, especially physics and the theory behind it. Like the theory behind throwing a ball, and how the science and theory can be applied to other things to solve bigger problems. Through the Engineering Graduate Programme I am looking towards chartership and hope to use what I learn to apply theory to some of the biggest challenges we face as society.
Can you explain your early years career programme?
Lennan: We are given technical training, work challenges, coaching and mentoring, and personal development and support. The Electrical Apprenticeship at Kirby is four years and runs alongside SOLAS, with Apprentices released for college-based learning throughout their training. I attend ATU in Galway for the classroom-based part of my Apprenticeship, and work on site the rest of the time.
I have worked on four sites across the three years of my Electrical Apprenticeship so far, mostly with the same site teams. Testing Engineer, Brendan Mannion, has been a great mentor to me. He is an absolute gentleman.
“Many of our Senior Leaders began their careers as Kirby Apprentices and we expect the new Apprentices to become the leaders of the future,” says Fergus Barry, Group HR Director at Kirby.
Aisha: I started on the Engineering Graduate Programme a year ago, after I completed my degree in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering at Shannon Technical University. The programme is structured to help and support you, but also to challenge you.
A key aspect has been learning how to communicate as part of your role.
I am on site most of the time supporting the Engineers, and I have been lucky enough to be surrounded by such a talented team and solid support structure, especially with my mentor Jacques Leisegang, manager Aaron Reilly, and graduate programme lead Amy Lane. As a female engineer, to have someone in her position to look up to has been great.
How did you come across your early careers programme?
Lennan: I knew from a very young age that I wanted to do an Apprenticeship once I’d completed my Leaving Certificate.
I am hands on and knew that an Apprenticeship would lead to a lifelong career. Some of my friends went to college, others did Apprenticeships, it was a real mix, but I felt that I wanted to get on and earn and learn. Many of our top people started as Apprentices, and that was part of what attracted me to apply.
Aisha: Kirby attended a careers event at my university, and from the beginning they were really approachable. When I applied to Kirby, I knew very little about construction sector. I hadn’t even been on site. I had done a placement in pharmaceuticals and wanted to explore other aspects of engineering. I felt that construction had the widest range of application of skills.
What drew me to the company was the family feel and its emphasis on people. Kirby people are some of the friendliest people I have ever met.
What does your day to day look like?
Lennan: Every day is different, I could be working on cable containment, be manufacturing trays, pulling cables, or be doing panel work. It’s great to see the progress you make every day.
Aisha: Day to day, I support the Engineers, and as part of the placement I’ve been completing reports and technical analysis on the installation of systems. As an example, I recently wrote a report on the installation and operation of a chilled-water system as part of the project I am working on.
What’s been your favourite part of the programme?
Lennan: Being part of something bigger, being part of a solution, and working on projects that help people and that make a difference.
Aisha: Working with such a talented team and getting to work on the construction site. – it’s hard work, but also lively and fun. There is pressure to meet the deadlines, but the team maintains a fun friendly environment.
What advice would you give people opening their results today?
Lennan: Do a lot of research into what type of Apprenticeship you want to do, and if you can get some work experience, shadow someone. That’s what I did and found that I loved it straight away.
Aisha: Follow your heart and your interests. As long as you are doing something you love, you will find success. If you love what you do, it will spread.
Kirby is currently accepting applications for its early careers programmes. Register your interest here: careers.kirbygroup.com/registration.
