It’s exciting times for Emmanuel Ahonsi, a young project management engineer with Aberdeen-based Sparrows.
After nine months with the company, Emmanuel, 23, is making significant progress with the rapidly-evolving oil and gas services company. At the same time, the talented boxer hopes to carve out a path in the Noble Art which will lead him to represent Scotland at the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
In his work, Emmanuel provides lifting engineering services to marine and subsea projects for some of the biggest names in the industry.
Having initially studied aerospace engineering, the former Oldmachar Academy pupil graduated during 2010 with an honours degree in mechanical engineering from Hull University.
His work involves coordinating all aspects of the installation and subsequent running of the lifting apparatus, from site visits and client liaison to project engineering to writing final project reports.
Emmanuel said: “After leaving university, I tried my hand at a few different jobs and Sparrows seemed the perfect fit for me. It is very challenging, however, everyone is very motivated and I am someone who has a lot of energy – every day when I wake up, I need to know I am going to achieve something. Specialising in cranes, there is always something different happening.
“If a company needs a crane at a specific time, we can arrange that. I am involved in rapid response and there is a lot you have to be able to adapt to. You have to be able to respond as quickly as possible to changing situations. It could be that you have to arrange a maintenance check on a boat’s crane but that could all change the next day because the vessel isn’t coming into port any more. You have to be ready to respond to anything that comes up.”
Established in 1973, Sparrows is one of the most trusted names in the oil and gas industry, employing 1,600 in 19 locations around the world.
A strong performance in 2011 saw the company’s turnover reach £172million, up on the £149.5million figure posted for the year before, and operating profit increased to £10.6million, up from 2010’s £5.9million. As a result of this the company has created 200 jobs since the start of the year with almost 130 of those based in Aberdeen.
In addition to offshore lifting and crane engineering, Sparrows also provides mechanical handling, pipe and cable-lay systems, fluid power engineering, equipment rentals and competence training.
“I follow the job from start to finish,” Emmanuel added. “At the moment I usually confer with senior engineers but I do go offshore to see the crane itself and look at what any problems might be. I also have to take into account things like costs, budgets, meeting goals and deadlines.
“The job always keeps you on your toes. The constant changes and number of things to consider puts you under pressure but that is what I like about it.”
Originally from Nigeria, Emmanuel was brought up in Aberdeen and recently represented Scotland as he reached the semi-finals in his first international amateur tournament at London’s Haringey Club.
Having mentioned his interest in the sport to colleagues, the light-heavyweight has since received support from his work in the form of time off to take part in competitions and sponsorship.
He said: “With Sparrows, I have the chance to move up the ladder. They create a lot of opportunities to progress and they are giving me the opportunity to make the most of myself in my sport.”
Emmanuel added: “I had been aiming to make the Olympic team for 2012 but I had injury after injury. Now I am fully fit and trying to get some more titles to help me qualify for the Commonwealth Games.
“I’m confident I can make the squad. I have boxed a lot of people in my weight and the only person who has beaten me has turned professional.”
He added: “Right now it is easy to balance both my work and sport, neither is a chore.”
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