I’ve always considered myself fortunate throughout my almost 30 years in the construction industry. My roles evolved, my responsibilities grew, and I adapted easily, grateful for every new challenge that came my way. But it wasn’t until I joined EDC that I realised how lateral my career progression had been. I had been mistaking new responsibilities for new opportunities.
Since joining the EDC team a few months ago, I feel I’ve progressed more in my career than I have in the past 20 years.
In previous roles, I led my own projects and liaised with everyone from Clients and Project Managers to Suppliers and Installers. I worked closely with my electrical counterparts and believed that each new project meant I was learning and growing. And to a point, every project brought its own challenges and rewards, and each handover felt like an achievement.
What I failed to notice then, and only now understand through my experience at EDC, is that I didn’t feel part of a bigger team. I worked within many small teams made up of brilliant people and close friends, but I wasn’t progressing.
I once read that careers can be more like a jungle gym than a ladder. Progress isn’t always upward; sometimes it’s sideways, diagonal, or a mix of all directions. I loved the analogy but didn’t recognise it in my own journey until now.
After joining EDC, I noticed a change in myself almost immediately. My confidence grew. I felt a new energy and renewed enthusiasm for my work. I looked forward to going into the office because I felt seen and heard. My opinion mattered. My experience counted. I was given new and varied challenges, along with opportunities to develop new skills. I was positioned front and centre on projects and offered the chance to represent the company during presentations and client meetings. Real opportunities for growth.
At EDC, there is a system, one that’s evolving and improving and everyone is invited to lean into it. For the first time, I could see a clear path ahead, one that had never revealed itself before.
I’ve always enjoyed helping and supporting others, so leading teams and mentoring junior engineers has been especially rewarding. To me, leadership and mentoring mean encouraging others, recognising their efforts and challenges, and helping guide them along their journey. We learn from each other, and together we become a stronger team. EDC fosters communication, collaboration, and mentorship. The culture is approachable, and support is always available when needed.
In just a short time here, I’ve already worked on a wide range of projects, from schools to public and private residential schemes, and from hospitality to commercial developments.
The school projects involved upgrading energy systems to create cleaner, more efficient environments where staff and students can work and learn comfortably. Residential schemes are always interesting, as no two are the same. Whether it’s centralised plant systems, district heating, Passive House design, apartment schemes, or housing estates, each project brings a new challenge and a new client vision.
I’ve also been fortunate to contribute to hotel and hostel designs. Two very different ends of the hospitality spectrum, yet both share a common aim: to give the end user the best, most comfortable experience at that moment in their journey. As design engineers, we’re able to use our knowledge and experience to help make that possible.
It’s clear that my working life has improved immensely since joining EDC, and I’m in a much happier place in my career. My days are full, and I’m busier than I’ve been in a long time, but with EDC’s systems in place, support is always accessible. Resources are reviewed regularly, management check-ins are routine, and Life Balance days provide space to rest and recharge.
For me, the ability to work remotely a couple of days a week has been one of the most beneficial aspects of the role. It improves my work–life balance by removing travel time and giving me the chance to do things like meet friends for a run, ultimately helping me feel more productive, healthy, and fulfilled.
By Michelle Kelly, Senior Mechanical Engineer - EDC.