From Apprentice to Boardroom
In recognition of National Careers Week, Jonathan Sims, Business Performance Director at SES, reflects on his inspiring journey from apprentice to the boardroom. He describes how he carved an academic career in an industry often perceived as mainly ‘hands on’. By sharing his own story, Jonathan hopes to encourage others to see the wide range of opportunities available within the sector.
Being honest, when I left school at 16, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my career. No grand plan, no clear path. What I did have was a family that worked in construction, a willingness to get stuck in, and though I didn’t realise it at the time – an industry in front of me that would give me more opportunities than I could have imagined.
More than 25 years later, I sit on the Board of SES Engineering Services as Business Performance Director, I’m a Visiting Professor at Durham University Business School and an Affiliate Professor at Emlyon Business School in Paris. I also hold a PhD – something I genuinely never dreamed of when I picked up my first set of tools as a teenager.
I’m sharing this not to boast, but because I think too many young people look at the construction and engineering industry and don’t see themselves in it and I want to change that.
Reflecting on my own journey
My journey started out of convenience. I joined my family building business and completed an electrical apprenticeship, then added qualifications in domestic gas installations and qualified as a heating engineer. I loved the sense of achievement that came from becoming fully qualified.
But I was also curious, so I enrolled on a Surveying degree while I was working, graduated, and spent time as a land and development surveyor. Then came an MSc in Strategic Human Resources and an MBA, sponsored by SES when I first joined – when they were known as Shepherd Engineering Services. Then, eventually, a PhD – completed while I was in a demanding senior leadership role, with a young family at home, spending a lot of time away. That chapter of my life was a real test of resilience. But completing it in three years is something I’ll always be proud of.
Between all of that, I worked across business development, strategic transformation, procurement, and supply chain – holding senior roles at Kier, Morgan Sindall, NG Bailey, and ultimately spending six years as Chief Procurement Officer for Engie/Equans, leading a team of over 100 professionals.
There is no one route – and that’s the point
What I want people to understand is that construction and engineering is not one career – it’s hundreds. The industry gives you the ability to work transversally across functions without ever needing to leave it. I’ve worked in operations, surveying, business development, HR strategy, procurement and supply chain, digital transformation, and now board-level leadership. Every single one of those roles was within this industry.
At SES, we see this every day. We create places for people to thrive – whether you’re starting as an apprentice on site, joining as a graduate, or coming in with experience from another sector. The routes are different, but the destination can be the same.
I rejoined SES in February 2025 as Business Performance Director, sitting on the Board with responsibility for digital, procurement, business improvement, and strategy and transformation.
Coming back felt like coming home. The culture here is genuinely the best I’ve experienced anywhere and I don’t say that lightly after 25 years in the industry.
Bringing this to life: a fireside chat at Durham University
Talking about opportunity is one thing. Showing it is another.
That’s why I’m proud to be hosting a fireside chat next month with a group of SES apprentices at Durham University Business School, where I have the privilege of working as a Visiting Professor.
This event matters to me personally. I want our apprentices to sit in that room, hear from people who’ve been where they are, and leave with a sense of what’s genuinely possible. Not just in terms of job titles, but in terms of the breadth of experience, the academic routes available, and the kind of impact they can have in this industry.
Nurturing talent and fostering a culture of growth
One of the things I love most about my role at SES is the people and particularly watching the next generation of talent come through. We have a super talented team here, and the culture of learning from one another every day is something I genuinely value.
Great mentors have played a huge role in my own career. Line managers, business leaders, colleagues, and my family – many people have invested in me, and I feel a responsibility to pay that forward. The best career decision I ever made was rejoining SES, and part of what drew me back was the opportunity to play a role in developing people here.
Final thoughts: make every opportunity count
This industry is incredible. The variety, the scale of projects, the people, the genuine opportunity to grow, move, and lead. We need brilliant minds coming in, and at SES, are committed to developing them. The route from apprentice to boardroom is real. I’m proof of that. And it’s a route I want more people to know exists.
Final thoughts from me. Seize every opportunity that presents itself, work hard to create the opportunities that have not presented themselves yet. Build your network and your personal brand (know what you stand for). Think long term, but deliver what is expected of you here and now. Be ambitious, be kind and treat people as you would want to be treated.