William Stevenson, technical director, Mott MacDonald Group
NAME William Stevenson
JOB Technical director
AREA OF WORK Building services engineering
EMPLOYER Mott MacDonald Group
QUALIFICATIONS BEng electrical and electronic engineering, Trent Polytechnic (1989); MIET
I also graduated in a downturn…
… in 1989. The current economic climate makes it difficult for graduates – so be flexible. I ended up working for a consultancy in London and, while it wasn’t my first choice location, I had to move to where the work was.
Initially, I thought that to gain more experience I would have to keep moving companies. I could not have been more wrong! I have worked for two large companies for almost 20 years, in New York, Dubai, India and throughout the UK.
What I like about construction…
… is having to stay ahead of the game. Legislation and industry components are constantly developed and refined and it keeps your mind exercised.
Communication is my most important skill…
… and is vital across the industry. You must be able to communicate effectively with every project stakeholder to meet the needs of the project and maintain your client relationships. Being open and honest with your team helps keep people on board.
I felt a great sense of professional pride…
… when I was appointed technical director. Another career highlight was having one of my projects featured on the MegaStructures television programme; it helped me explain to family and friends the scope of the work I’m involved in. I also enjoy mentoring graduates in the early stages of their careers and seeing them progress.
Be patient about your career progression – experience takes a long time to develop.
My most memorable project…
… is still the first I worked on: Kansai Airport, Osaka. At the time it was one of the largest construction projects in the world – built on an artificial island in Osaka Bay. Parts of the building were designed to be jacked up to keep them level and it has already survived major earthquakes and 200 km/h typhoons.
My role in the project was as a graduate electrical engineer, looking at the design of the electrical systems and working with Japanese engineers in the London office. Andrew Sedgewick, my mentor, gave me a good insight into the wide variety of services that a building services engineer has to provide.
My advice to graduates…
… is to remember that your degree will give you the tools you need to train in your new career, regardless of the technical subjects you’ve covered. Be patient about your career progression – experience takes a long time to develop.
During your interview don’t be afraid to ask questions to find out about the culture of the company you want to join. It’s your opportunity to find out how much time and money they will invest in you.
Career milestones
1987 placement year as electrical design engineer with WJ Furse & Co Ltd
1989 graduated and started work with Arup in London
1996 promoted to senior electrical engineer in Edinburgh
1999 moved to the New York office, USA
2001 joined RMJM UK as senior electrical engineer in Glasgow
2002 joined Mott MacDonald Group
2005 promoted to associate
2008 promoted to technical director.