Day in the Life: Craig Booth, Junior Project Manager

Craig on…his background

“Before joining the business, I was working as a site-based utility and land surveyor. It was solid work, but I was looking for somewhere I could really develop my skills and progress my career. That's when I found 40Seven, which is now SOCOTEC.”

Craig on…his progression and growth at SOCOTEC

“The pace of progression here has been quite notable. I've had two promotions while working on-site, and then a third promotion that saw me step into a Project Manager role. The company recognises hard work and potential and they provide opportunities for people to step up when they're ready.

“Of course, there have been challenges along the way. One of the main ones has been maintaining a healthy work-life balance, especially when the role required working away from home. When you have kids and a personal life to manage, those periods away can be difficult. It's something I've had to actively work on.

“More recently, as I've moved into the Project Manager role, I've had to develop my IT skills. It's been a learning curve, but it's part of growing into the position.”

Craig on…the support

“I need to acknowledge my colleague, Martin Walker, Senior Project Manager, who has been instrumental in my development. He's provided consistent support and guidance, particularly when I was developing my GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) skills. The company invested in further in-house training for me, which helped me build expertise and confidence in this specialised area. Having someone who supports your development makes a real difference.”

Craig on…what’s next

“Looking ahead, I'm focused on continuing to develop my Project Management skills and working toward a more senior role within the company. There's still much to learn, and I'm interested to see where this path leads. SOCOTEC has shown that if you're willing to put in the work and take on new challenges, there are opportunities to progress.”

Craig on…advice for his younger self

“If I could go back and give my younger self some advice, it would be this: be more focused on what career path you want. I spent time exploring different options, which isn't necessarily bad, but having clearer direction earlier on would have been helpful. That said, the journey has taught me a lot.”