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

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

Hi, I’m Aaron McCrae and I’m a Trainee Project Manager with SSEN Transmission. I’m currently working on the East Coast 400kV Overhead Line Upgrade project, which is in its construction phase.‍

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

My role is really varied, which is one of the things I enjoy about it. I support the wider project team with planning and coordinating different areas of the project, working with contractors and internal teams, tracking actions and risks, and helping resolve issues as they come up. A typical day could involve site or project meetings, reviewing progress, speaking with stakeholders, working through commercial or land and consenting matters, and preparing project updates.

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

I joined the team at SSEN Transmission in August 2025, recently just completing my first year in the role. What attracted me was the opportunity to develop a career in project management while working on major infrastructure projects that have areal purpose.

The scale of the investment taking place in the electricity network and the role Transmission has in supporting the transition to cleaner energy particularly appealed to me.

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

After finishing high school, I decided not to go straight to university, but I still wanted to continue my studies. I went to college and completed an HNC and HND in Business Management. My original plan was to continue on to university and complete a degree in the same field, but the opportunity to join SSEN Transmission through the trainee programme came up. I applied and ultimately decided it was a great opportunity to continue learning while gaining experience in the workplace.

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

I didn’t always know that I wanted to work in project management or the energy industry. It’s something I discovered along the way. Being on the trainee programme has given me exposure to different parts of the business and helped me realise that I enjoy project management, particularly the mix of working with people, solving problems and seeing a project physically progress.

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

I joined SSEN Transmission through the trainee programme and have gradually taken on more responsibility as I’ve gained experience. A big turning point was getting the opportunity to take on additional project management responsibilities on my current project. That gave me much more exposure to the day-to-day delivery of a major construction project and allowed me to develop by actually taking ownership of pieces of work rather than just observing them.

I’ve also been working towards my APM project management qualification alongside my role, and I’ve recently passed my APM PMQ exam. It’s been useful being able to take what I’ve learned through the qualification and apply it to real situations on the project.

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

No, I didn’t come from an energy or engineering background. While I was studying at college, I actually started out working in sales, so joining SSEN Transmission was my introduction to the energy industry. Since joining, I’ve learned a huge amount through the trainee programme and from working alongside experienced people across the project.

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

The most rewarding part for me is being able to see the physical progress of the project and know that I’ve played a part in getting it there. Because I’m working on alive construction project, you can see decisions and work that you’ve been involved with turn into something tangible on site. I also enjoy the problem-solving side because no two days are exactly the same.

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

Probably how many different areas a Project Manager gets involved in. It isn’t just construction or engineering. On a single project I can be dealing with contractors, commercial matters, landowners, planning and consenting, health and safety, community engagement and project reporting. You don’t necessarily need to be the technical expert in every area, but you need to understand how all those different pieces fit together.

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

Communication is probably one of the biggest ones. You work with lots of different people, so being able to build relationships and communicate clearly is really important. Organisation and prioritisation are also key because there can be a lot happening at once. I’d also say being willing to ask questions and learn is particularly important early in your career. You’re not expected to know everything, but you need to be proactive and willing to take responsibility.

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

The project I’m working on involves upgrading the existing 275kV transmission network on the east coast of Scotland to operate at 400kV. My role helps support the safe and effective delivery of that infrastructure. By increasing the capability of the network, projects like this help accommodate more renewable electricity and ensure it can be transported across the country to where it’s needed.

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