Following his recent article in Scaffmag, our Senior Design Engineer, Michael Egan, is fast becoming recognised as Millcroft’s expert on advanced modelling techniques. Here, Michael talks about his career and how his thirst for knowledge, and passion for innovation, have helped him develop his skills and keep Millcroft at the forefront of design.
Hailing from Fife, Michael’s journey into the world of design began early in 2008. He pursued an HNC in AutoCAD while being paid by the army as a design draughtsman candidate.
"When I was younger, I was in the army cadets and always thought I fancied a career in the forces. So, I applied for a design draughtsman position in the Royal Engineers while at college. Only a few candidates are accepted to this role each year," explains Michael. "As I was doing a relevant civilian qualification, I was put into a scheme where the army paid me, and in return, I had to attend weekend military training camps."
Michael's career path took a significant turn after heavy snow delayed him from joining the army phase 1 training for 6 months. During this time, he landed a good-paying scaffolding apprenticeship in the oil and gas sector for Cape Industrial Services. After completing parts 1 and 2 of his training, Michael knew he wanted to pursue design, so he didn't follow an army career.
Michael’s academic journey is both lengthy and diverse. As the first in his family to attend university, he has balanced full-time work and raising a young family with his studies. Despite the challenges, he loves studying and growing his expertise.
A diverse career path
After completing his basic scaffolding qualification with the industrial service company, Michael worked for Woodgroup and Debourgh Services (now Actavo).
“After a few years on the tools and earning good money, I decided to go back to college and study,” recalls Michael. He undertook an HNC in Construction and then studied architecture at Dundee University. “I worked 2-4 days per week for a local industrial scaffolding contractor during my studies. However, architecture was not what I expected, and I didn't feel it was the right career path for me."
After a brief hiatus that included managing a bar and playing rugby in Spain, Michael returned to the UK with a renewed focus on his career goals. He joined a Cambridge-based scaffolding company but soon transitioned to a Trainee Design Engineering role at a leading temporary works design consultancy” and then Engineer.
Never one to rest on his laurels, Michael returned to university doing a third HNC in Civil Engineering, gaining fast-track entry to a BEng degree which he recently completed, and achieving First Class Honours. His next step is to pursue professional chartership.
Joining the Millcroft family
Michael's decision to join Millcroft in September 2023 has proven pivotal in his career. He describes it as the "best career move I have made so far" and appreciates the supportive, family-run environment and recognition everyone receives for their work. "Millcroft has supported me through my final year at university," he explains. Combining scaffolding and engineering is a dream job for me. I enjoy the hands-on experience and satisfaction of seeing my designs come to life on site."
As our Senior Design Engineer at Millcroft, Michael is responsible for developing initial design concepts, conducting structural calculations, and creating drawings for various structures, from independent scaffolds to cantilevered suspended decks.
One of the challenges of his role is working with the available kit in stock. "We try to find creative solutions using Millcroft’s existing kit. If this isn’t possible, we’ll use new kit if it benefits future projects," Michael notes. "I love developing innovations and investigating time-saving efficiency measures, such as parametric design. The variability and complexity of projects, including work on the London Underground, keeps me engaged and excited about my work."
Recognition and a bright future
Michael’s expertise and dedication have not gone unnoticed. He has been nominated by Millcroft’s clients as a Contractor Responsible Engineer (CRE) on several projects, managing the company’s engineering output. This recognition is a testament to his skills and the trust placed in him by both Millcroft and our clients.
As Michael continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in scaffolding design and engineering, his journey to becoming an expert in advanced modelling techniques in the scaffolding world is proving inspirational.
