My route into leadership in building services – and what helped me get there

Hi, I'm Adnan. I'm an Associate Mechanical Building Services Engineer here at AtkinsRéalis. Since joining as a graduate in 2015, I've worked on a wide range of technically demanding, high-performance building projects. Today, I lead a larger team in Epsom, bringing together the right people to solve client problems, win work, and deliver projects that make a difference.

My journey to becoming a senior mechanical building services engineer

I started out as a Graduate Engineer in the Bristol office after completing my BEng (Hons) in Architecture and Environmental Engineering. I spent the early part of my career delivering projects across the South West through the graduate scheme. As I progressed, my responsibilities evolved to include client-facing work, winning projects, and leading teams across medium to large multidisciplinary schemes.

In 2022, I moved to Epsom to take on a broader leadership role. I now focus on winning new work, building delivery teams, and spending time co-located with our client – listening closely, understanding challenges, and shaping practical, deliverable solutions.

How the move to Epsom accelerated my growth as a principal mechanical design engineer?

One of the biggest moments in my career was making the move from Bristol to Epsom. That step was inspired by my line manager and a client director who I'd met through the Sponsoring our Talent pilot programme, and we'd developed a strong working relationship. One of our conversations led to him suggesting I might benefit from joining a larger team in a new environment.

The great thing about working at AtkinsRéalis is that kind of move can happen quickly. My practice manager, helped facilitate the transition, and before long, I was in Epsom – exposed to a wider network of leaders and opportunities to challenge myself. The move brought new visibility too: senior leaders could see I was confident in front of clients and skilled at translating problems into clear actions for delivery teams.

That recognition opened even more doors, including attending a UK Government dinner with our Managing Director, Mike McNicholas – an incredible chance to grow my network and take part in high-level conversations. Learn more about how you can thrive with us.

Strengthening my commercial skills and project leadership in building services

For me, career development has been all about connection – connecting with people, asking questions, and learning from every conversation. Joining the Sponsoring our Talent programme created a ripple effect that led to new prospects, honest feedback, and clear actions to build on my strengths.

I knew I was strong in front of the client but needed to build confidence in governance and contractual elements. So, I started sitting in on stage gates and focused on understanding what success looks like in that space. I also recently completed the NEC4: ECC Project Manager Accreditation training – an important step toward strengthening my knowledge in that area. Explore rewarding careers in building services.

What leadership means to me as a building services engineer

But it's not just about ticking boxes. I constantly ask myself: What are the organization's biggest strategic priorities? How can I align my efforts to support that? And how can I bring others along with me?

That mindset keeps me grounded and outward-looking. I believe in supporting others as I grow – especially graduates and apprentices. I get real energy from helping others succeed. To me, leadership means lifting others up and giving back to your profession.

At AtkinsRéalis, I'm trusted to lead, encouraged to ask bold questions and I'm supported by a culture that values teamwork, initiative, and growth. Are you looking to step into leadership or explore what's possible? Browse these live engineering and project leadership vacancies at AtkinsRéalis.