In the midst of a prominent skills and talent shortage, Sim Sharphouse, Operations Manager at mechanical and electrical engineering firm Salko UK, discusses his 16-year career, what motivated him to join the industry and his advice for those looking to enter the field.

Taking the apprenticeship route: Starting out in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering

In 2009, I was offered an apprenticeship with the mechanical and electrical engineering firm, Salko UK. I began my career as an electrician and worked my way up to become an Operations Manager.

I was initially drawn to the industry because of the vast opportunities for progression into more senior roles. I noticed that there were many opportunities for young apprentices and a clear career pathway with chances to upskill and advance to senior positions.

Climbing the ladder and upskilling

At the beginning of my apprenticeship, I didn’t have much responsibility – my primary focus was on learning the basics principles of being an electrician. Once I became more comfortable in my role, I took on additional responsibilities which enabled me to secure some early promotions.

As I progressed and demonstrated my leadership skills and working with people, I transitioned from primarily site-based work to more office responsibilities and managing a team.

I found that the key to upskilling and advancing my career was my willingness to learn, putting myself out there for development opportunities and asking questions. This approach allowed me to showcase my commitment to progression, the business and being a team player. It’s important to remember that upskilling benefits both your personal journey and the company – the advantages work both ways.

I undertook a NEBOSH course, which is a well-regarded accreditation in health and safety management and my continued learning also meant I completed the CompEX electrical buyers course.

How has Salko UK grown since you joined in 2009?

Salko UK has experienced significant growth since I joined more than 15 years ago. When I first started, we had five office staff and around 30 workers on-site, now we have 15 office staff and approximately 150 workers on-site.

We have expanded extensively and currently operate on 60 to 70 projects a year, I am proud to be supported by such a strong team.

As Operations Manager, my main responsibilities involve ensuring projects run smoothly, safely and efficiently, whilst remaining on time and in budget. My role involves overseeing both Salko UK staff and customers. I now manage my own team which is very rewarding, and on the commercial side, I am managing job pricing and deal with project deadlines.

Last year, the Salko UK team won two prestigious awards with one of our biggest global customers, in the Supplier of the Year and Safety categories. These are really significant achievements that I’m so proud to be a part of.

Recruiting the next generation

Starting a career in this industry is not easy, as it often requires long hours on-site and time away from home. Lots of M&E firms operate across the country, and there were times when I was away from home for months whilst on site, which can be challenging. However, I was aware early on of the substantial opportunities for progression, which motivated me to advance.

My advice to anyone looking to enter the industry is not to give up, to keep the bigger picture in mind and to recognise the potential for progress. You need to be willing to persevere – many will give up, but those who stick with it and can adapt to working away will benefit in the long run.

Looking to the future, I see the sector increasingly focused on renewables. While we currently work extensively with gas and steam, we anticipate more projects in renewable energy. This expansion includes initiatives such as solar farms and battery storage.

For more information, visit: www.salko.co.uk