Rakhee Patel 11 Years at calfordseaden

Congratulations to Rakhee Patel who celebrates her 11th anniversary here at calfordseaden! As we celebrate this milestone, Rakhee talks us through what has changed since she joined the Practice, her day-to-day responsibilities as an Electrical Engineer, and advice for people looking to start a new career.

Journey from Admin Assistant to Electrical Engineer

I joined calfordseaden in 2013 as a member of the Admin team, primarily scanning documents regarding archived projects. This was during the latter stages of my university course, where I was studying Product Design. The reason behind joining calfordseaden was establish myself somewhere and to keep my options open, as I was nearing the end of my university course.

The Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (M&E) department needed some assistance using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and I offered to help as I gained experience using CAD during my degree and through completing an extra-curricular course independently.

As I transitioned into a CAD Technician and had gained three years of experience, I started to take on more responsibilities that extended beyond my role, and this sparked my interest in attaining my HND in Building Services. I have since progressed towards completing my BEng (Hons) Building Services Engineer qualification, in which I am awaiting my results for, with plans to achieve IEng status next year.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

Primarily, my role involves working on design projects, in particular for new residential buildings, producing drawings, calculations and technical reports. In addition, I have recently taken on new duties with regards to contract administration focusing on existing buildings and upgrading the electrical services. Part of this involves me producing specifications, reviewing designs, conduct site visits to monitor progress, and collaborate closely with contractors.

There are several Apprentices and Graduate Engineers within the M&E team and I look to provide guidance and support whenever possible. I have been in their position and the support I received from colleagues was significantly beneficial.

A landmark project I have worked on during my time here has been Hartopp and Lannoy Point. It has been rewarding witnessing the entire life cycle of the project, from the demolition of the existing buildings and working towards stage seven of the project. This project is special to me since it was the first project I was appointed to as an Engineer and I feel as if my development has been parallel with the development of the scheme.

Growth of calfordseaden

Since joining in 2013, the M&E team has grown significantly. The growth of the sustainability sector within the construction industry has been exponential. Sustainable considerations are now being made earlier in the decision-making process, instead of being an afterthought. In addition, the introduction of hybrid working has been beneficial.

Career Change Advice

For those considering a career change or looking to pursue a new career path, I would advise to not be afraid of new opportunities. Even though it can be daunting, the guidance you receive from your team can be significantly beneficial and can provide you with support as you adjust to your new role. Additionally, I would encourage people to try to be comfortable with taking on new responsibilities at work as this can be beneficial to your development in your career and create new and exciting opportunities.