In the latest edition of our Meet the Experts series, we shine a light on Marc Moran, one of our senior business managers in the UK. Marc's journey with us began in 2006 when he joined our design team during a summer placement while he was still at university. The following year, he returned for another placement, this time with the operations team. Finally, in 2008, he secured a full-time position as a graduate engineer. “If someone had told me when I first started at the company that I would one day become a business manager, I wouldn’t have believed them,” he recalled.
Throughout his more than 15-year tenure at the company, Marc has held various roles, including project engineer, engineering team leader, and contract support engineer. Reflecting on his career with us, he emphasises the paramount importance of Altrad Sparrows' talented staff and teamwork mindset. “People are the core of our business and the foundation of our culture. Working as one team with an openness to adapt and evolve is essential to allow us to make positive changes.”
Curious to learn more about Marc’s journey and glean important insights from him? Dive into the full interview below!
Could you share some information about your educational background, qualifications, and prior professional experience?
I got my HNC and HND in Mechanical Engineering from Aberdeen College. In 2008, I earned a BEng (Hons) in Mechanical and Offshore Engineering from Robert Gordon University (RGU), also in Aberdeen.
When did you start working at Altrad Sparrows, and what roles have you held since then?
During my university years, I was accepted into the Sparrows scholarship scheme, which provided me with my first opportunity to work in the industry. I completed two summer placements here, one in 2006 with the design team and the other in 2007 with the operations team. I officially started a full-time job at the company in 2008 as a graduate engineer in the bp contract team. Since then, I have held various positions, including project engineer, engineering team leader, and contract support engineer.
In 2021, I took on the role of senior business manager for one of our key contracts within the UK, a position I still hold today. If someone had told me when I first started at the company that I would one day become a business manager, I wouldn’t have believed them. I’m sure the colleagues who worked with me as a new graduate would have found it hard to believe as well! I hope my journey demonstrates that there are many chances to develop and grow within our organisation. I believe these opportunities will only increase as we continue to integrate with the Altrad Group worldwide.
Over your journey at the company, could you tell us about one challenging project you were involved in and the factors that made it particularly demanding?
I've been involved in a wide range of projects over the years. The ones that stand out are those that were challenging and initially felt overwhelming. However, looking back, they are the projects I'm most proud of.
When you start a project, you have a rough idea of how things will go or what needs to be done. In reality, each project is unique, with many variables that can shift the course of the plan. As projects gain visibility, managing client expectations and interactions with various stakeholders become more crucial. Balancing quality, cost, and delivery time amid client expectations is what makes these projects particularly demanding.
Please outline some of the key responsibilities that shaped your daily routine as one of our senior business managers in the UK.
My job description will tell you that I am responsible for things like HSEQ and client delivery. These are key responsibilities and are very important. However, I believe the main driver shaping my daily routine is pride in the company and the people I work alongside. I strive to do my best for them and for the organisation. Keeping this in mind during decision-making ensures all aspects such as safety and delivery are prioritised.
Is there anything specific you would have approached differently in your career? If so, what would it be?
I've been fortunate in my career, having worked in many different roles and progressed through the company. However, in the early stages of my time here, there was an opportunity to move abroad and work full-time in Perth, Australia. My girlfriend (now wife) had also been accepted for a job transfer to Perth, so we were very close to making the move. It would have been an ideal time with no other family responsibilities at that point. But ultimately, it didn’t happen. Sometimes, I do wonder what our lives would have been like if we had taken that path. I imagine my BBQ skills would have greatly improved!
Last but not least, how would you sum up your expertise?
I used to consider myself fortunate, working in a business surrounded by people eager to share their knowledge and experience. However, as I've progressed within the company, I've come to realise that our people are the core of our business and the foundation of our culture. Working as one team with an openness to adapt and evolve is essential to allow us to make positive changes.
I know this series is called “Meet the Experts,” but to be fair, that’s certainly not me! My team and the support around me and the business are what make us the experts. Everyone in the business plays an important role in the company’s success, and I want to take this opportunity to highlight that.