Jensen Hughes is rapidly growing, and one of its most exciting initiatives is the secondment program. Our executive leadership team has recently expanded opportunities for employees across Europe to enhance their skills and advance their careers by collaborating with colleagues from different offices.
With 22 offices across Europe — including Finland, the UK, Ireland, Belgium, Italy and Denmark — the company has embraced intercompany work and leveraged worksharing across its locations. A great example of this is the successful collaboration between our Finnish and UK and Ireland (UKI) offices. The collaboration began in the autumn of 2021, and since then, teams have worked together on hundreds of projects. In this blog, I will share my experience of being seconded from the Finnish team to the UK team.
Starting Point + Background
I had the opportunity to be part of the secondment program, joining it in 2023 as one of its early participants. I began my journey by first working on intercompany projects and then relocating from the Tampere office in Finland to Edinburgh, Scotland. With a Master of Science degree in Structural Engineering from Tampere University, I had a strong interest in fire safety and fire engineering, applying my university knowledge to my professional work.
The opportunity to move to a new country, adapt to a different team environment and learn new codes and regulations is rare and invaluable. I had the freedom to relocate, and I embraced the chance to experience a new working environment.
Being on a Secondment
The most valuable part of the secondment was connecting with incredible new people — working alongside them and learning from their expertise. I had the opportunity to collaborate with experts on the Scotland team, gaining invaluable insights into Scottish codes and client interactions and managing tight deadlines effectively. From the support I received from local colleagues before my move and the warm welcome on my first day to shared lunch picnics, after-work gatherings and friendships that will last a lifetime, every moment was truly meaningful.
Another key takeaway was the confidence I gained throughout the experience. While there were moments of stress, uncertainty and frustration, everything ultimately fell into place.
I was at the very start of my career when I began intercompany work in 2021, and some might say I was just a nestling when I embarked on the secondment. However, I believe this allowed me to be more open-minded and adaptable to the new environment. Since then, I’ve gained invaluable experience — not only in our profession as fire engineers and consultants but also in navigating diverse work cultures, learning the language and local customs and adapting to new and sometimes unexpected situations.
Moving to a new country is a unique experience that doesn’t come around often — perhaps only once in a lifetime. For those with the flexibility to pack their bags and embrace a new setting, I encourage, it’s an opportunity worth seizing.