Thinking about a career move to the UK? Here's why it's a great idea

New opportunities to expand her career, acquiring new skills and varied experiences, not to mention exploring another culture, are some of the reasons Nefeli Daskalogianni touched down in our country. A civil engineer specializing in structural engineering, she arrived in the UK to do her MSC and start an exciting career in construction.

"I'm from Athens and always wanted to move to the UK to build my career, expose myself to big and complex projects, and gain experience working with multinationals clients."



Why Faithful+Gould, member of the AtkinsRéalis Group?

The main reason that I chose to work at Faithful+Gould was for its people. It's really difficult nowadays and especially in the construction world, to find companies that care for their employees more than their revenues. Faithful+Gould treats everyone as unique, there are equal opportunities for everyone, and they offer an inclusive culture. I also appreciate the opportunities I'm offered to grow my career through working on many clients and projects with great support from management.

What are the people like in your team?

My colleagues are always happy to assist me with tasks I'm struggling with or might not know how to approach. The senior team is always there to support me with any issues, listen to any problems and try to accommodate any requirements. From the first moment, I felt really comfortable within the team as they have built an environment where we all take care of each other.

What are you working on at the moment?

I'm proud to be working on a project at Gatwick Airport, which is also my first project. I came from a subcontractor environment with no knowledge of the consultancy world. However, within two months, thanks to my exposure to the Gatwick project, I can now understand the procedures and manage my projects with minimal supervision and input. This has satisfied the client, who requested Faithful+Gould to put more people on the job!

Do you have a mentor?

My Line Manager has been supporting and teaching me all of his knowledge of the aviation sector.

What has career progression been like for you at Faithful+Gould?

I've progressed very quickly. I have been working as a Quantity Surveyor for just five months, and I am already about to apply for a promotion as a Cost Manager. I wouldn't be able to achieve that if Faithful+Gould hadn't seconded me to my current project and provided me all the support and training I required.

"My three biggest PROs about living and working in the UK are technical experience, high salaries and a great work-life balance."

What does your work-life balance look like inside Faithful+Gould?

I work full-time. However, the organization has supported me, and it still does, to work from Greece. It's allowed me to spend some time back home with my family and friends, which has been really important for me and my mental health.

Do you have any other roles inside Faithful+Gould?

As part of the Social Value team in the Transportation sector, I organized a charity event to help Trussell Trust raise money via their Visual 5K marathon. I wouldn't be able to achieve that if Faithful+Gould didn't have the willingness to contribute to society, influence people and change the world.

I also help to organize social events within the team as everyone deserves some fun. It's good to spend time with different people within the company, share experiences, and socialize.

What advice would you give construction professionals from your country thinking about moving to the UK?

It's an excellent opportunity to be exposed to a different working environment. Working in the UK, we successfully implement new construction methods, such as different procurement routes. It could give you wider exposure to methods and processes that could help improve skills and knowledge—and build your pillars to success.

Interested in opportunities in the UK? Learn more about life inside Atkins and search live jobs.