Construction was not an obvious career choice for Daniel when he was younger. DEC changed that.

Through DEC Club and DEC Level 2, Daniel was introduced to the built environment, Autodesk Revit and the role of digital technology in design and construction. He began to see how creativity, problem solving and technical skill could lead to a career with purpose.

At St Ambrose Barlow, Daniel completed the 2015 ‘Hotel Underground’ James Bond themed challenge and developed early digital modelling skills. DEC also gave him opportunities to speak at industry events, helping him grow in confidence as a communicator as well as a young engineer.

St Ambrose Barlow was adopted by Laing O’Rourke, who were building the school at the time.

That relationship gave students access to real professionals, real projects and real expectations. For Daniel, meeting Laing O’Rourke’s Digital Engineering team helped turn an interest into ambition.

It showed him that the construction industry was not simply about building sites. It was also about digital technology, engineering, design, teamwork and solving complex problems.

From 2015 to 2017 during his sixth form education, Daniel became one of the first students to pilot Laing O’Rourke’s ‘Planning for Pathways’ Scholarship.

The paid, structured work experience programme ran alongside his studies and gave him 12 weeks of experience across two years. Daniel worked mainly with the Digital Engineering team and visited live projects including Davyhulme Wastewater Treatment Works and the Manchester Institute of Health and Performance.

The scholarship gave Daniel time inside the business, exposure to different professional functions and a clearer understanding of where he wanted to go. It confirmed that Digital Engineering was the right route for him.

In 2017, Daniel joined Laing O’Rourke as a Trainee Digital Engineer through its school and college leaver route, while studying Civil Engineering BEng at Liverpool John Moores University.

He progressed to Assistant Digital Engineer and then Digital Engineer, working across Core Modelling, Post Win and Work Win teams. His project experience has included Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Edinburgh St James, Everton FC Stadium and other major schemes.

In 2022, Daniel graduated with a First Class degree in Civil Engineering.

Daniel later chose to broaden his experience on site, working as a Site Engineer at Hinkley Point C Power Station between 2023 and 2025.

There, he developed practical construction knowledge in setting out, quality assurance, temporary works and site delivery. This experience gave him a wider perspective on the challenges of construction and strengthened his confidence in decision making.

In 2025, Daniel returned to Laing O’Rourke’s Digital Engineering team in Manchester with a stronger understanding of how design decisions translate into live construction – and a promotion to Senior Digital Engineer!

Daniel has remained connected to DEC throughout his career.

He has returned to St Ambrose Barlow to support DEC students, spoken on behalf of DEC at the House of Lords and shared his story at industry events.

As a DEC Ambassador, Daniel now helps inspire the next generation of learners by showing what is possible when school based learning connects with real industry opportunity.