As a member of Jensen Hughes' growing team, I had the opportunity to take part in the secondment program. This initiative allows employees across Europe to expand their skills by collaborating on projects across borders. With more than 22 offices across the region — including Finland, the UK, Ireland, Belgium, Italy and Denmark — Jensen Hughes has fully embraced intercompany collaboration, fostering teamwork and knowledge-sharing across its international network.
Starting Point + Background
I hold a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Fire Officer studies from Savonia University of Applied Sciences – Emergency Services College. Additionally, I have gained valuable experience working in an emergency response centre and fighting fires as a firefighter in the Volunteer Fire Brigade. I started working as a Fire Safety Consultant in 2013 when I joined the legacy company L2 Fire Safety Ltd., now Jensen Hughes. I had the opportunity to move from Helsinki, Finland to Dublin, Ireland. Before relocating, I had the privilege of collaborating with the Dublin team on several projects remotely, which made the transition much smoother. Meeting the team in person allowed me to simply connect familiar voices with faces, making the adjustment even easier.
Being on a Secondment
During my secondment, I had to learn the specific rules and regulations relevant to the projects I was working on as part of my daily tasks and trying to figure out the unwritten local rules, that is never ending process. However, the fundamental principles of fire engineering remain the same, regardless of the regulations or the country. It was reassuring to see that the skills and knowledge I had gained throughout my career were valuable beyond Finland. Knowing that my expertise could be applied internationally made the experience worthwhile.
The best part of my secondment was undoubtedly the incredible people I met — my amazing colleagues in the Dublin office. I didn’t expect to feel like one of the "regulars" so quickly, but I was welcomed as part of the team from day one. Whether it was lunchtime conversations or unwinding over a pint after work, these moments made all the difference. For me, the secondment was a fantastic opportunity to bring new experiences to my routine after more than ten years with the company. While it felt like I had to relearn my profession by studying local regulations and navigating procedures with the authorities, it was a rewarding challenge. For those who are tempted to take the step and experience working abroad I would say not to worry about fitting in or finding your place in the new team. It will happen as a certainty and by itself because in the end, we do speak the same language of fire safety.