Colm Higgins talks to nijobfinder and tells us how he became a Technology Engineer at Queen’s University Belfast.
The post: Head of Northern Ireland Technology Centre, Queen’s University Belfast
The post holder: Colm Higgins
A passion for innovation, design and technology has been the driving force in Colm Higgins’ career.
Here’s how he became a Technology Engineer at Queen’s.
Give a brief outline of your career to date.
My career began when I came straight out of university and went into Bombardier, (then Shorts Brothers), as a Graduate Engineer in the Tool Design office. At Bombardier I progressed to a Senior Tooling and Technology Engineer. After seven enjoyable years I moved on to set up a business on my own, promoting and selling CADCAM technology from Ideas and then Digital Manufacturing software from Deneb, before it was purchased by Dassault Systems.
In 2001 I was then recruited by the Northern Ireland Technology Centre at Queen’s University Belfast to establish the Foresight Business Process Centre promoting best practice in Business Process and IT to local industry. I have worked at Queen’s for 18 years and am currently Head of the NITC, a job I believe to be the best job in Northern Ireland aligned to my interests. Fundamental to my career has been a passion of innovation, design and manufacturing technology.
What was your favourite subject at school?
I was always fascinated and interested in History, however mathematics and PE always stood out. Both I treated as fun and competitive.
Did you go on to further/ higher education, if so what did you study and where?
I studied at Ulster University where I graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Studies. I subsequently completed, with support from Bombardier, a Masters of Science in Polymer Science and Engineering. The course was jointly delivered with Queen’s University Belfast with my graduation from Ulster University.
How did you get into your area of work?
Like many young men, I didn’t really have a focus on a specific career and unconsciously fell into Engineering. At the time, the most appealing graduate opportunities were with FG Wilson and Bombardier, and I was fortunate to be offered a role at the latter. At Bombardier I was encouraged to look into and understand new and innovative materials and manufacturing technologies. With the developments taking place in Bombardier at the time, these were exciting times and the foundation of my interest on innovation today.
Is this what you always wanted to do?
Not really! My father had a car business, so I did have an interest in cars and Engineering but during my college years I also had a keen interest in becoming a pilot and had interviewed with British Airways and Aer Lingus at the time.
Working in Bombardier and in particular the Global Express Plane Development Team (the precursor to the C-Series wing) created a high interest in manufacturing, design and innovation. The move to Queen’s University Belfast and the Northern Ireland Technology Centre in particular cemented my interest which is now as much of a hobby as a job.
Were there any particular essential qualifications or experience needed?
We are usually looking for candidates who have a degree background, however, if you have expert knowledge and experience in a specific field of technology, we will consider those with a HND with relevant experience. As we are at the forefront of manufacturing technologies, we foster the environment for upskilling and capability development in the job.
Are there alternative routes into the job?
As a research organisation driven through funded projects, it is normal practice for jobs in the NITC to be advertised requesting specific skills to meet the requirements of the project.
What are the main personal skills your job requires?
Many jobs today require good personal and communication skills and ours is no different, as we are continuously engaging with the full spectrum of industry, these skills are essential and will continue to develop throughout our career. Other skills we look for are: investigative, diligence, a level of independent thinking and personal drive, a positive attitude, ambition with interest in ‘beyond the norm’ aligned to a creative and innovative outlook.
What does a typical day entail?
What is a typical day in the NITC? It doesn’t exist. There are continuous developing challenges and queries from industry. A rhythm can be created in response to a specific project and this will involve an element of investigation, application, review and understanding. Then we do it all again as we continually try to improve what and how we make things. How a new project develops can take us in a different direction. As the Head of NITC, I am now more involved in the management and institutional processes and this is clearly the most challenging area of my work as, like my team, I am more driven by the technical challenge. I still try and get engaged in the technical side with the team as much as I can, or, as much as they are willing to let me. That said, the germination and development of a project, sourcing and identifying technical solutions, framing a collaboration and developing the case for support still excites and drives me.
What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?
The most challenging is probably keeping the brakes on, but the team have a strong interest in innovation and helping companies with their problems. Demand invariably exceeds what we can offer but we all endeavour to try and deliver a workable solution. What we do is exciting, it can be at the forefront of what is possible, and we are driven by the ‘art of the possible’. Like most technically driven managers, the paperwork is always the challenge but unfortunately necessary.
Why is what you do important?
Advanced Manufacturing is, and will be, a strategic sector and a key driver in Northern Ireland’s future economic success. It is at the core of many other strategic sectors; General Engineering, Aerospace, Food & Drink, Construction. It is important to make products which create value. How we manufacture is seen as critical, driven by the necessity for innovation and productivity. The competitiveness of our manufacturing is crucial to ensure we compete globally. In a world that is getting ever smaller logistically, innovation and productivity are core in driving this competitiveness.
Northern Ireland is an SME driven economy that punches above its weight when considering location and resources in comparison to other global regions. This is supported through the recognition that our industry is highly entrepreneurial and creative. Alongside this there is an incredible work ethic in SMEs, many being family run businesses. However, sometimes we are guilty of working too hard and not working smarter. This is where we have a role to play, alongside other stakeholders, in helping companies understand and improve on what they are achieving.
What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?
Go for it. If Engineering and Manufacturing excites you and could be your hobby not just your job, absolutely go for it, embrace and enjoy it. I would particularly encourage young females to consider this as a career as they are currently under-represented.
If you could go back, what is the one piece of advice you would give to yourself on your first day?
I would recommend to young people to try and take a gap year and experience life and work in the eclectic world.
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