A DAY IN THE LIFE: David Shedden, Resourcing Manager & HR Business Partner

Background

Introduction to Subject, where they went to School, College, University etc and how did they end up in the career they are in?

I attended school in Perth and had very limited knowledge of the oil and gas sector until I went to the University of Aberdeen to study Management. After a spell DJ-ing full time, I ended up going back to university to complete a MSc in Human Resource Management.

My placement was in Marathon Oil updating employee guidelines then later I ended up working at a recruitment agency which eventually led me back client side for AECOM, a global infrastructure consultancy with 87,000 employees, managing their talent acquisition in their Water, Environment and Architectural divisions.

I then developed my management skills in resourcing and HR at Centrica before helping design the transition to Spirit Energy. I joined EnerMech in July as a Senior Recruitment Advisor looking after permanent hiring.

Company

Overview of company, geographical reach, market sectors and number of employees?

EnerMech employs 3,500 staff across 40 locations in the UK, Norway, the Middle East, Caspian, Asia, Africa, Australia and Americas, working on large scale projects across the oil and gas, LNG, renewables, defence, power, infrastructure and petrochemicals sectors.

Itinerary of average day?

Average day begins with breakfast for my three kids Gregor, 2, Kirsten, 5, and Ruaridh, 6. then a 7.30am departure to work. On arrival I check my plan for the day and to-do list along with emails. Tasks vary widely throughout the day and include input into client bids, interviewing candidates, searching for candidates, guiding managers on recruitment and selection best practice, and setting up resourcing infrastructure for the business.

What does your job involve and who are your clients?

Looking after permanent recruitment from identification through to selection and onboarding. My clients are the management team and project managers within EnerMech’s UK business as they rely on my skills to identify and attract the right personnel for the business.

What are your biggest challenges?

Making sure there is a forward plan for hiring and helping stakeholders understand that recruitment is now a technology led function and almost an extension of marketing.

What do you enjoy most about job?

Sounds trite but changing people’s lives in a positive way by offering a new career.

What do you enjoy least?

Ironically interview scheduling! Automate, automate!

What are you most passionate about outside of work?

Family is the most important thing to me, so work/life balance is key and EnerMech offers flexible working and part-time options for staff. For me I enjoy taking my kids to football or dancing. Enjoying a trip to Edinburgh with my wife is also top of the list. Personally, I love trail running and electronic music production.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Developing non-sector recruiters and seeing them flourish in oil and gas. I also enjoy seeing people I have developed move on to new roles both within and outside of our own sector.

How is your company evolving to ensure it delivers value to its clients?

EnerMech offers a unique range of mechanical, electrical and instrumentation services that can be provided in an integrated manner, helping to improve on customer efficiencies. We are known for our skills in collaboration and partnering with like-minded entrepreneurial organisations, developing smart technology and new work systems which introduce cost and efficiency savings for the end-client.

What plans does your company have for the future and how do you see your role evolving?

Our vision is to be the leading contractor of choice to the energy and infrastructure sectors. We are seeking to continue to expand on the services we offer to our customers both in oil and gas and the other sectors in which we operate. In the UK, our Great Yarmouth and Bristol operations in particular, are targeting new onshore sectors and my role will continue to evolve as we enter these new markets and seek to recruit like-minded, entrepreneurial people into our business.