When Eileen Faherty started her apprenticeship in 1998, she was the only female on her course, and one of the few on site.

“Things were different in the 90s. The sites were not set up with the facilities and work environments we have now,” explains Eileen, who now leads a team of eight quantity surveyors across two data centre projects for Kirby Group Engineering.

A Pathway to Apprenticeship

Eileen’s path to an apprenticeship was not the usual one. She had signed up for course at college but did not enjoy it, “I knew it wasn’t for me, and I wanted to explore a practical route of work and learning.”

“My dad is in the construction sector, and he helped me look into my apprenticeship options outside of the ones that girls were generally encouraged towards at that time,” says Eileen, who grew up in East Wall, Dublin.

Pre-apprenticeship Training Course

Earning and learning was the route that Eileen chose, but she was keen to make sure she chose the right specialism.

“I did a paid pre-apprenticeship course with FAS (now SOLAS), and over six months, tried my hand at bricklaying, joinery, carpentry, and electrical work, with two months on-site as part of the scheme.”

She found the electrician role most appealing.

Electrician Apprenticeship

“I grew up in inner-city Dublin, and at that time, there was a huge drive for local labour as part of the development of the International Financial Services Centre. I benefitted from that initiative, started my apprenticeship in 1998, and qualified four years later.

“As well as practical skills, I worked with the estimating team on bids for new contracts as part of the four-year training programme. At that point – although I didn’t appreciate it at the time – I realised that a whole world of engineering opportunities was opening up to me.

“Once I qualified, I went back to college part time in the evenings to complete a degree in Construction Technology at DIT (now TU). That led me into a surveying role.”

Although college wasn’t for Eileen earlier in her life, she went back to college and is now again studying for a master’s degree in construction law through Kirby’s executive education sponsorship programme. She adds, “I went back to college later, once I had found a sector I knew I would thrive in.”

Wide Variety of Roles in Engineering

“There are so many roles that support the work we do on-site, whether it’s estimating, quantity surveying, bidding, marketing, safety, or quality. For me, an apprenticeship was the passport to the next step in my career.”

After five years working in Ireland, across hospitality, life sciences and industrial sectors, Eileen travelled and eventually went to work in Australia, using her qualifications to unlock a world of opportunity, work, and travel. She spent two years abroad before returning to Ireland to a role in the estimating team of an Irish engineering firm.

She joined Kirby two years ago in a Senior Role as a Commercial Lead.

Journey with Kirby

“I was exploring new roles and came across Kirby. I had an interview and got a good feeling about the company and the culture as part of that process. I had already spoken to people who had moved to Kirby, who gave a positive endorsement of the company.

“It still feels like a family-run company, they have managed to maintain a positive people culture and have been strategic about growth,” says Eileen.

A Day in the Life of a Commercial Lead

Eileen works across two data centre projects, with a team of eight. She serves as the client interface with Kirby and works collaboratively with them to manage risk and all commercial aspects of the projects alongside her team.

She works to the Kirby Way, a standardised approach to everything from tenders to aftercare. “Kirby is very structured and well-managed. The Kirby Way can be hard to get used to, but once you adapt, it spells out all aspects of how Kirby manages its projects and is a real asset – not only to us, but to our clients, as it delivers certainty and quality.”

Outside of Work

Eileen’s focus outside work is her family. “Kirby allows me to focus on my career, further development and my family. Kirby knows the importance of family, and that’s part of the people-first culture.”

When asked about her hobbies, she says, “I like cooking, following a recipe and exploring the world through food.”

When we ask if she has advice for the next generation of engineering talent, she says, “An apprenticeship is more than just a route into a trade. It is the pathway to so much more if you wish to pursue it. There are so many opportunities to travel, to continue your learning journey, to move into other areas of a business or sector, and more importantly you can earn money at the same time as learning.”

Having been a successful pathfinder in the field she would particularly encourage girls to engage with an apprenticeship and build their careers in STEM.