Author: michellecoates

The people who make PJ Hegarty: Alyson McKeogh, finding her path in engineering

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Alyson first joined PJ Hegarty as a college student on placement, discovering an environment where development is encouraged, and support is part of everyday life. After graduating, she returned without hesitation, ready to take on the challenges of engineering.

Today, she brings fresh thinking, problem-solving energy, and the confidence that comes from feeling she belongs. For her, working as a young woman in construction is empowering, a clear reminder that what counts is the quality of your work and the opportunities you take.

The people who make PJ Hegarty: Jan Glynn, shaping a people-first workplace

Posted on by michellecoates

Head of HR Jan Glynn reflects on the importance of creating a workplace where people can bring their most authentic selves to work, feel supported, and continue to grow. For her, an environment built on trust and respect is central to building a thriving workforce.

Jan speaks openly about PJ Hegarty’s ongoing DEI journey, noting that it involves continuous learning, listening, and a willingness to challenge old assumptions. Her own development has shaped how she leads this work, reinforcing the belief that inclusion is never a finished task but a commitment every day.

She emphasises that PJ Hegarty goal is simple: to build a workplace where everyone feels valued and able to contribute fully.

The people who make PJ Hegarty: John Gavigan, from Graduate to Director

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John Gavigan reflects on a career that has taken him from graduate engineer to director, a journey he never expected when he first joined PJ Hegarty nearly thirty years ago. Over that time, he has contributed to shaping Ireland’s skyline.

Throughout his career, he has been committed to guiding the next generation. He has helped younger engineers find their footing, offering insight drawn from decades of experience.

John’s story highlights what can happen when ambition and development are supported. It emphasises the culture at PJ Hegarty, a place where people are encouraged to grow, pursue opportunities, and build meaningful careers.

World Menopause Day: Understanding the impact

Posted on by michellecoates

On Friday, October 17th, we were joined by Loretta Dignam, Founder & CEO of The Menopause Hub and a Forbes 50 Over 50 Global leader, for an insightful webinar.

Loretta broke down why menopause matters, what it really is, and how its symptoms can impact both personal and professional life. She shared practical management and treatment options, highlighting the crucial role workplaces play in supporting individuals going through menopause.

At PJ Hegarty, we value all our employees and place our core values, Safety, Sustainability, Inclusivity, Relationships, and Forward Thinking, at the heart of everything we do. This webinar reflects these values, reinforcing the importance of menopause awareness for health, safety, and performance. It also provided clear, practical steps to help us create a more inclusive and supportive workplace for everyone.

Thank you to Loretta for leading such a meaningful conversation, and to our Employee Resource Group, Empowering Women in Construction, for supporting and leading this initiative.

Birmingham Children’s Hospital Dragon Boat Race

Posted on by michellecoates

What an incredible day at the Dragon Boat Race in support of Birmingham Children’s Hospital! Our team, the Blazing Paddles, gave it their all, and we are thrilled to announce that we won both Race Day and 2025 Overall Winner, with the highest combined score in fundraising and position in the competition.

We are delighted to have taken part, enjoyed the race as a team, and contributed to the massive total of £291,551 raised this year for such a worthwhile cause.

Thank you to everyone who supported us; every cheer motivated us to keep rowing!

PJ Hegarty Birmingham Children’s Hospital Visit

Posted on by michellecoates

Members of the PJ Hegarty UK team, Kieran Ryan, Jennifer Horgan, James Vincent, and Maryam Crossan, recently visited Birmingham Children’s Hospital to witness the impact of their fundraising efforts ahead of the upcoming Dragon Boat Race next month. The funds raised will support various initiatives, including life-changing equipment, medication, and emergency care packs for families in crisis. Every pound donated will make a meaningful difference.

Best of luck to the seventeen team members participating in the Dragon Boat Race!

Celebrating Differences in World Autism Acceptance Month

Posted on by michellecoates

To mark world autism month, we hosted a webinar with by Adam Harris, founder and CEO of AsIAm, Ireland’s Autism Charity. Adam founded AsIAm based on his own experiences growing up as an Autistic person in Ireland.

The session was packed with valuable insights, covering:

  • Tips to build a more inclusive work environment.
  • Personal insights from Adam’s journey as an autistic person in Ireland, and how those experiences have informed his work.
  • How workplaces can move beyond awareness to meaningful inclusion and acceptance.

At PJ Hegarty, we’re proud to be a workplace where people are valued and supported. As holders of the Investors in Diversity Gold accreditation, this webinar is one of many steps we’re taking to champion diversity and inclusion across our organisation.

World Earth Day

Posted on by michellecoates

At PJ Hegarty, sustainability is central to how we operate. On World Earth Day, we’re proud to highlight the steps we’re taking to reduce our environmental impact through our 2030 ESG Roadmap.

We recognise the urgency of the climate crisis and the responsibility to act. That’s why we’ve aligned our carbon reduction goals with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), ensuring our efforts are in line with global climate objectives.

As part of our journey to reach Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050, we’ve set ambitious targets for 2030:

  • A 47.5% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
  • A 33.5% reduction in Scope 3 emissions.

We’re proud of the progress we’ve made while looking ahead at all there is to do. Explore our 2030 ESG Roadmap to learn more about how we’re building a more sustainable future.

For more information on our sustainability efforts CLICK HERE.

 

Celebrating Diversity: Gold Sponsorship at the CIF International Women’s Day Summit

Posted on by michellecoates

We were delighted to be a Gold Sponsor of this years Construction Industry Federation International Women’s Day summit.

The event provided great insight with topics such as infrastructure, financial independence, pioneers in safety and building heroes discussed. Susan McGarry’s moving keynote address highlighted her remarkable journey of resilience leaving the audience in awe.

We were proud to have Sinead Gaines, our Regional EHS Manager, take part in the Pioneers in Safety panel, sharing insights on women’s leadership in health and safety. This again really reinforcing the importance of diversity in the industry.

Building Responsibly: Smarter Water Management for the Future

Posted on by michellecoates

International days such as World Water Day make us stop and consider our impact on the environment and its natural resources. All organisations will leave their mark; our aim is to be accountable, measuring any impacts we may have and reducing them over time.

With water scarcity becoming an increasing global challenge, industries must play their part in responsible water management. At PJ Hegarty, we are committed to reducing our environmental impact and improving water efficiency across our projects. As part of our 2030 ESG roadmap, our aim is to reduce potable water usage intensity by 50% by 2030. We’re improving water efficiency through more innovative management and sustainable construction.