From Site Testing to Leadership: Stephen McEvoy's decade at LDG

With over a decade’s worth of experience in geotechnical onsite testing, Stephen has become an integral part of the team, managing projects, advising and mentoring colleagues across Ireland.

His journey from entry-level technician to senior testing engineer & data analyst is a testament to dedication, continuous learning, and the support of experienced Lloyds mentors who shaped his career path. To understand how Stephen built his expertise and what drives his work today, we sat down to discuss his career journey so far…

Stephen on…his early career path

“I started with Lloyds back in 2008 (until 2010) as an onsite testing technician, with various plant licences including HGV, working in the field collecting PDA, PIT & CHA data along with setting up and completing static load tests, tension tests & plate bearing tests. As financial recession hit Ireland I decided to venture to Australia for a few years. I returned to Ireland 2016 and regained my position with Lloyds Testing.

“From there, I progressed into coordinating day to day activities, allocating resources, liaising with clients and scheduling in work for myself and the team. The main priority was executing each job from initial contact with the client until the final report was issued in an efficient manner. I learned the ropes from other in-house experienced colleagues and gradually took on more responsibility.

“Over the years, I've developed expertise in using the Pile Driving Analyser (PDA), Pile Integrity Tester (PIT), Cross Hole Analyser (CHA) & more recently CAPWAP (Case Pile Wave Analysis Programme). I have gained multiple PDH’s by attending several advanced high strain testing workshops hosted by PDI (Pile Dynamics Inc) in London and at their headquarters in Cleveland Ohio to further develop my skills in the use and execution of each testing discipline.

Stephen on…his role today

“Now I am currently carrying out all analysis on PDA, PIT, CHA & CAPWAP data collected from our field engineers. Using my field experience, checking relevant parameters, comparing SI information against computed outputs to ensure confidence for our clients. Working together with Nigel Dillon, Daniel Ross & Sean Hagan, we oversee the day to day running of the testing division. I schedule bookings & liaise with clients on a technical level, liaising and supporting colleagues in the field offering a technical approach on any difficult scenarios & ensuring an efficient and speedy turnaround.

“A lot of what I do involves coordinating with clients, understanding their requirements, scheduling the fieldwork, and then ensuring we deliver quality results and reports on time.

“The variety is what keeps it interesting. Every project is different, every site presents its own challenges, and you must adapt to what the client needs.”

Stephen on…his mentors and influences

“I've been fortunate to work with some excellent people over the years. The colleagues who trained me when I first started were instrumental in helping me understand the technical aspects of the work.

“More recently, working with Nigel, Daniel & Sean in the testing division has helped me develop my project management and client relationship skills. You learn so much just by observing how others handle complex situations and to offer my own two cents.

Stephen on…the SOCOTEC acquisition

“The transition to SOCOTEC has been positive. It's opened new opportunities and there's a sense that we're part of something bigger now.

“We're still doing the work we've always done, maintaining those close client relationships that Lloyds have built over many years, but now we have the backing of a larger organisation with more resources and expertise to draw upon.”

Stephen on…challenges in the industry

“The biggest challenge is always managing client expectations while maintaining the quality independent assessment of their piled foundation projects. Clients want results quickly, but we can't compromise on the quality and thoroughness of our testing or reporting.

“Our sector is somewhat limited by what our clients are doing – construction activity drives our workload. You must be flexible and ready to respond when jobs come in at short notice, things can change every half an hour in this business.”

Stephen on…his work-life balance

“It's demanding work, there's no doubt about that. Site work means early starts and, in most cases, late finishes, you must be adaptable to Irish weather conditions (four seasons any one day) and of course the site constraints.

“But there's satisfaction in knowing you're providing crucial information that helps projects move forward with confidence. The testing we do forms the foundation, “the beginning, for major construction works.”

Stephen on…his future aspirations

“I'd like to become more involved in the pricing and tendering stages of projects. I've got the technical knowledge and project management experience, so it would be a natural progression to expand into that commercial side of the business.

“Socotec have already provided a vision of their plans for Irish market and if I can develop my expertise in the commercial aspects while maintaining my technical skills, that would be ideal for the next stage of my career within our company.”