A Day in the Life of Shannon: SSEN Transmission Trainee Project Manager

1. Introduce yourself and tell us your job title at SSEN Transmission?

My name is Shannon McDonald, I am 21 years old and I am a Trainee Project Manager.

2. What does your role involve, and what does a typical working day look like?

As a Trainee Project Manager at SSEN, my role involves supporting projects throughout their lifecycle, from planning through to delivery. I work with project managers, engineers, contractors and other teams to help coordinate activities, monitor progress, manage project documents, organise meetings and support areas such as budgets, risks and procurement. A typical day can vary depending on what stage a project is at. I might attend project meetings, update trackers and documentation, follow up on actions, review progress against plans and communicate with different stakeholders or be on site. I really enjoy the variety because every day can bring something different, and it gives me the opportunity to learn more about both project management and the electricity transmission industry.

3. How long have you worked at SSEN Transmission, and what initially attracted you to the organisation?

I have worked at SSEN for 4 months now, I joined as part ofthe August intake. I was initially attracted to SSEN due to it being within the renewables sector. The ability to grow and work my way up through the company as it continues to grow was a big attraction.

4. What did you study at school, college or university, and what did you go on to do afterwards?

In school I did 6 highers – English, Biology, History, Modern Studies, Physical Education and Business.

After I left school I started an apprenticeship as a Quality Engineer for a medical device company, during my apprenticeship, I gained an SVQ2, SVQ3 and a HNC.

After I completed my apprenticeship, I got a full-time job with the company before moving and joining SSEN.

5. Did you always know what career you wanted to pursue,or did you discover this along the way?

I have never known what I wanted to do as a career, towards the end of 6th year, I knew university was not for me so I looked for apprenticeships, my apprenticeship taught me the skill set I had and what I enjoyed in a career, which helped me understand what I wanted to do and lead me to applying to SSEN.

6. What was your route into your current role? Were there any unexpected opportunities or turning points along the way?

After completing my apprenticeship, I knew I wanted to do something else. After researching I found the trainee PM role within SSEN and applied. The application process was challenging but after being asked to attend an interview, I was then offered the role.

7. Have you always worked in the energy or engineering sector, or have you taken a different route into the industry?

As mentioned above, my previous experience was within the medical device industry, while part of that was the engineering sector, the energy sector was entirely new to me.

8. What's the most interesting or rewarding part of your job?

The most rewarding part of my job is seeing how the work I support contributes to real infrastructure projects. I enjoy working with different teams and stakeholders and developing my project management skills while helping deliver projects that will have a long-term impact on the electricity network.

9. What's one thing about your role that might surprise people?

People might be surprised by how varied project management is. It is not just about creating plans and schedules. My role involves working with engineers, contractors, finance, procurement and other stakeholders, as well as supporting risk management, budgets, documentation and project performance.

10. What skills or personal qualities are important for someone working in your role?

Good communication, organisation, teamwork and problem-solving skills are really important. You also need to be adaptable, willing to learn and comfortable working with lots of different people, while keeping track of priorities, risks and deadlines.

11. How does your work contribute to the electricity network and help deliver a cleaner energy future?

My work supports the successful delivery of projects that strengthen and expand the electricity transmission network. SSEN Transmission is expanding the network to connect more renewable generation while maintaining a safe and reliable supply. By supporting the planning, coordination and delivery of these projects, I am contributing to the infrastructure needed to transport more clean electricity and help the UK transition towards net zero.