b'OPENREACH SPECIAL Meet Our DNO Engineers the top of the hoist which was an interestinga big advantage for me and we have a great team Richie Vas experience.including our managerwe like to have a cup I joined The Groupof coffee together before we arrive at our first 11 years ago asWhat makes me enjoy the job is that it is neverlocation. an engineerrepetitive,therearemanyfactorsthatcan and currentlyinfluence our day including the weather, locationI know Im very well supported, not just by our work on theand each pole may bring a different challenge.office staff and David (Team Manager) but my OpenreachThere is no typical week and this job gives youengineer colleagues who are always just a call DNOtheopportunitytoseedifferentpartsoftheaway.projectcountry, places that you probably would never with Dean.think to travel to. Sometimes youre surprisedI think its true for the whole telecommunications As a hoistbythebeautyoftheselocations,andithasindustry,itmayseemcomplicatedatthe driver, I hadhappened many times that I decided to travelbeginningbutwithpractice,youllgainmore the opportunity tobackwithinmyfreetimetodiscoverthemknowledgeandexperience,andyouwillget assist our Marketing Department on a fewfurther. there in no time if you work hard.projects where they executed aerial shots fromThe fact that we get to manage our own time is Dean OFlynnI joined Kelly Grouplocal DNOs and can often, at times, interactIve been working with Richie for a couple of 12 years ago asdirectlywiththem.Ourjobevolvesdaily,years and we make a great team which has a an engineerforexample,iflocalDNOscarryoutpolehuge positive influence on our everyday life. and had theinstallations that involve road closures, we join pleasurethem on the site to complete the transfer on theWhat makes this a great job is the flexibility of to worksame day, avoiding further costs and planningour schedule, it allows me to do a school run in on variousinvolved in the future for our client.the morning which is important for me.I also projectsfeel massively supported because of our amazing throughoutNo day is ever the same, Ive learnt to have nooffice staff and managerthey are always just a my tenure.expectations of what the day is going to lookphone call away from us. Currently,like, because it can change at any minute.Only I am a DNOa few engineers are currently working on thisMybiggestadvicefornewengineersisto (Distribution Networkspecific project, and each two person team has astickwithit,itmayseemalittledifficultat Operator) Sapphire Engineer working alongsidedesignated area they look after. However, Richiethebeginningasyougainexperienceonthe UK power companies, transferring Openreachand I are a mobile team who provides supportnetwork, but it will get easier.equipment from old poles to new ones.wherever it is needed across the country. Our schedule heavily depends on demand therefore We have such a good working relationship withwe cannot plan days ahead of time. 24 .The Networker Autumn 2022'