George Wilson

At Franchi I am the sole engineer within a new automation team; this has meant I have taken on a hybrid role within a growing department. Encompassing project management, installation and commissioning works on site.

We work on new-builds within London, such as the Citi bank HQ and other multi-million pound projects. Working alongside the technical services and construction managers on these sites, my role is to deliver the automations package.

Starting with planning and organising enabling works, to the physical installation; finishing with the commissioning and handover of our kit on completion of the project.

At the time of the pandemic, I had decided to undertake some work for my then landlord, fixing a few fences and laying patio. A few months later this developed into starting a small landscaping company with a good friend of mine. While this was never my plan, we managed to build and maintain a successful business. The experience I gained in these years is immeasurable. My role covered everything from garden design, project planning and management, organising, shovelling and accounting.

ELS were a bespoke automatic door company. Staring as junior engineer, I began fabricating frames and glazing doors in the workshop. This allowed me to develop my metal fitting and welding skills learned at college. I then began shadowing the install team as a junior on the team. After a couple years of learning the ropes, I took the position as a lead engineer on site working with labourers and fitters underneath me to deliver projects of varying sizes from start to finish.

Unfortunately the covid pandemic dissolved the company.

As an independent installing, my time as McNicholas showed me the value in scheduling my own work load. My role included installing multiple Virgin Media systems to domestic properties. Alongside learning the technical side of the telecoms industry, this job also required on the spot problem solving and a decent level of people skills to get me through the day.