Kelly Group is delighted to introduce Richie Vass and Dean O’Flynn, our Distribution Network Operator (DNO) engineers. The Group’s Distribution Network Operators (DNO) is a remarkable project and not many people know it exists. Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) are energy suppliers around the UK who have a contract with Openreach, to install some of their network infrastructure on poles, which carry low-voltage lines.
Richie Vass - DNO Engineer
I joined The Group 11 years ago as an engineer and currently work on the Openreach DNO project with Dean. As a hoist driver, I had the opportunity to assist our Marketing Department on a few projects where they executed aerial shots from the top of the hoist which was an interesting experience.
What makes me enjoy the job is that it is never repetitive, there are many factors that can influence our day including the weather, location and each pole may bring a different challenge. There is no typical week, and this job gives you the opportunity to see different parts of the country, places that you probably would never think to travel to. Sometimes you’re surprised by the beauty of these locations, and it has happened many times that I decided to travel back within my free time to discover them further.
The fact that we get to manage our own time is a big advantage for me and we have a great team including our manager – we like to have a cup of coffee together before we arrive at our first location.
I know I’m very well supported, not just by our office staff and David (Team Manager) but my engineer colleagues who are always just a call away.
I think it’s true for the whole telecommunications industry, it may seem complicated at the beginning but with practice, you’ll gain more knowledge and experience, and you will get there in no time if you work hard.
Dean O’Flynn - DNO Engineer
I joined Kelly Group 12 years ago as an engineer and had the pleasure to work on various projects throughout my tenure. Currently, I am a DNO (Distribution Network Operator) Sapphire Engineer working alongside UK power companies, transferring Openreach equipment from old poles to new ones.
We have such a good working relationship with local DNOs and can often, at times, interact directly with them. Our job evolves daily, for example, if local DNOs carry out pole installations that involve road closures, we join them on the site to complete the transfer on the same day, avoiding further costs and planning involved in the future for our client.
No day is ever the same, I’ve learnt to have no expectations of what the day is going to look like, because it can change at any minute. Only a few engineers are currently working on this specific project, and each two-person team has a designated area they look after. However, Richie and I are a mobile team who provides support wherever it is needed across the country. Our schedule heavily depends on demand therefore we cannot plan days ahead of time. I’ve been working with Richie for a couple of years, and we make a great team which has a huge positive influence on our everyday life.
What makes this a great job is the flexibility of our schedule, it allows me to do a school run in the morning which is important for me. I also feel massively supported because of our amazing office staff and manager – they are always just a phone call away from us.
My biggest advice for new engineers is to stick with it, it may seem a little difficult at the beginning as you gain experience on the network, but it will get easier.
