Tom Turns Engineering Career into Professional Recognition

Tom Dalcz (55) from Lisburn has turned a wealth of career knowledge and experience into a City and Guilds Level 7 Professional Recognition Award through South Eastern Regional College (SERC).  

Tom left school and went straight to work, while working he started studying for his O Level qualifications and City and Guilds qualifications in areas such as plant operations and industrial boilers.

Tom currently works as a Senior Engineer and Construction Manager for Fichtner, an international engineering consultancy firm. He is responsible for health and safety, plant design, civils, mechanical and electrical systems and plant on site up to plant commissioning and handover, as well as developing high level strategy for the project.  

Speaking about his career he said, “I started off as a Stoker for BP in 1984 and was at sea for 10 years with BP learning everything there is to know about ships. I’ve worked for AHS Emstar as a Shift Engineer, joined BP Energy Ltd as a Senior Technician, then Clarke Energy Ltd as a Senior Engineer/Project Manager before joining my current employer Fichtner as the Owners Engineers Site Representative prior to my current position.  

“I’ve been part of some great projects, from being part of the team who installed the first combined heat and power plant at the Central Boiler House at Shorts Queen’s Island to the building of the Quad Generation Combined Heat and Power at Hellenic Coca Cola Knockmore.” 

Tom talked about his day-to-day role as a Senior Engineer/Construction Manager, “My current role would see me start the day catching up with emails, and then design reviews and Hazard and Operability Analysis (HAZOPS) I would then do some site walkdowns to compare the progress made to the construction programme. A typical day may involve meeting with the client and the Engineer Procure and Construct (EPC) Contractor. The best part of the job is seeing the plant that I’ve helped build and commission come alive and generate electricity.” 

Speaking about the Level 7 Professional recognition award Tom said, “The process of getting the qualification involved gathering evidence of everything I had done in my role over the past three years in terms of communication, information management, strategies, leadership, working with others, managing customers and my own personal development. You don’t think of your day-to-day work under headings like this, but when you start to review what you have done it soon amounts to a tremendous body of skills, knowledge and experience, all at a strategic management level. 

“All my experience had to match the C&G Level 7 standards and the evidence can range from emails to minutes of meetings, to high level client facing meetings. Gathering the evidence can be complex, so if someone intends to complete the C&G Level 7 then they need to be prepared to work hard for it.” 

Speaking about his time at the College Tom said, “I found my experience of SERC excellent. They were able to deliver the course to me whilst I was in work, which was a big factor as to why I decided to enrol, as there was minimum disruption to my working day and a usually busy schedule.  

“I would certainly recommend SERC to anyone considering further or higher education have been excellent in helping me get my City and Guilds Level 7. With the support of Barbara Murphy from the College’s Business Services team, I was able to achieve this qualification.   It means I am able to progress my career within my company and am qualified to apply to be an Incorporated Engineer (IEng) with the Institute of Engineering.” 

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