Career Pathways
Mark Fleming, Technical Director
I left school at 16 ½ to start a Youth Training Scheme job in flooring and wall cladding, earning £30 a week! I worked in this industry for three years, then pursued an HND in Construction Management at Inverness College. Subsequently, I completed an Honours Degree in Estate Management at Napier University.
I worked as an Estates/Land Surveyor in Edinburgh for eight years before returning home and transitioning back into construction as a Site Manager. I began with smaller-scale projects at MM Miller, before a brief period at ROK Civils, eventually joining Global Infrastructure in 2008. Since then, I've progressed from Site Manager to Project Manager, Construction Manager, and currently hold the position of Technical Director.
As a Technical Director, I oversee several projects within our company, primarily in the electricity transmission sector for our principal client – SSEN. I maintain close contact with the relevant project teams, ensuring they possess the necessary resources, information, and support for project completion. My role involves acting as a liaison between Global and the client, heavily engaging in design development and coordination to ensure thorough project planning before implementation.
What I appreciate most about Construction and Civil Engineering is the consistent challenge the industry presents. While it may not be a particularly enjoyable experience when you are in the middle of one of these challenges, once you work through it and come out the other side, the end results are generally quite satisfying. In short I would say I like, maybe even enjoy a work related challenge!
For those considering a career in Construction and Civil Engineering, I highly encourage pursuing it – especially if you love challenges, enjoy outdoor work, seek diverse opportunities, and value seeing tangible end products. And to any young person uncertain about their career path, don't pressure yourself to plan out your entire life. Personally, I never had a plan and have allowed my career to develop naturally, which seems to have worked for me! We are only here for a short time, so try to find joy in what you do and don't take it too seriously!
