Aaron Leggat has relocated from Aberdeen to Houston as he develops his career within Ashtead Technology. Find out how more about Aaron’s journey, both in development and location.
Tell us about your time at Ashtead Technology so far
After completing my HND (Higher National Diploma) in electrical and electronic engineering, I was approached by two of my friends from Ashtead Technology who suggested I join the team. I started first as a trainee workshop technician.
By demonstrating a strong worth ethic and determination, I was quickly able to grasp the intricacies of the specialist subsea survey equipment we offer. This led to opportunities to lead various teams within Ashtead Technology’s Survey and Robotics workshop, in Aberdeen. The experience was great for my my leadership skills and developing my ability to manage tight deadlines. With Ashtead Technology’s continuous support, I gained the confidence to take the next step in my career and accepted the offer to join the team in Houston as Workshop Supervisor.
What prompted your decision to transition from Senior Onshore Survey Technician in Aberdeen to Workshop Supervisor in Houston?
I greatly valued my experience in Aberdeen, but I was eager to step outside my comfort zone and expand my skill set. Moving to Houston felt like the right step for my career, opening numerous opportunities for growth. I’ve always enjoyed travelling, and this rare opportunity came at the perfect time in my life. The vibrant networking scene in Houston appealed to me, as it allows me to establish a global presence beyond Aberdeen. I believe my team and I will work well together, delivering excellent products and services to our clients.
What responsibilities does your new role entail?
As the Workshop Supervisor, I oversee all workshop operations, including inspections, repairs, and goods dispatch. I provide training and upskilling opportunities to ensure our work quality is maintained and continuously improved. I have implemented a new stock system to maintain sufficient inventory levels for our projects. Additionally, I meet with clients to support their projects, delegate workloads, and complete training matrixes for all workshop staff. This broader responsibility allows me to develop a deeper understanding of the workshop’s dynamics and our customers’ needs, contributing strategically to the business’s overall success.
What ambitions have you still got to fulfil professionally in your career?
Beyond the excitement of relocating and experiencing a new culture (and yes, the better weather!), I’m particularly enthusiastic about learning about the operational intricacies of our business from a different perspective offering. This new role also presents a unique opportunity for me to engage with customers across the USA.
My immediate focus was on excelling both for our customers and the company. I hold a long-term vision for continued advancement within the organisation, and am open to exploring new opportunities and challenges that may arise in the future.
What advice would you give to anyone contemplating an advancement in their professional role?
Career advancement often requires embracing new challenges. My relocation was driven by a desire for professional growth. For those considering a similar path, I would suggest do some research to ensure the role aligns with your long-term goals. Ashtead Technology has been incredibly supportive during my move, prioritising my professional development and providing valuable support.
Ashtead Technology is proud to offer our customers across the globe i2S’s advanced camera solutions. Through our strategic partnership with i2S, a leading manufacturer of innovative underwater camera systems we are their exclusive global rental and resale partner, providing our customers with unparalleled access to i2S’s industry-leading technology, including OrphieScaph and OrphieCam.
As the leading experts in subsea technology, we are keen to provide solutions which helps our customers see more in the harsh and challenging subsea world. Through this partnership our customers have access to i2S’s latest addition, the OrphieScaph, a compact camera delivering superior performance in low-visibility environments.
Phil Middleton, Head of Survey and Robotics commented : “Our collaboration with i2s strengthens our commitment to providing customers with the most advanced and reliable equipment for their subsea operations. The i2s camera range perfectly complements our existing offerings, allowing us to deliver exceptional visual data acquisition capabilities for a range of underwater projects.”
By using i2S cameras for their operations, our customers can achieve significant advantages. The exceptional low-light performance of these cameras allows us for extended working hours and efficient task completion in challenging underwater environments. i2S cameras deliver crisp, high-resolution images, facilitating meticulous data collection and informed decision-making. The superior reliability and durability of these cameras minimize downtime and ensure project continuity.
We’re committed to providing our customers with the most advanced and reliable equipment solutions for their subsea operations. This partnership adds to Ashtead Technology’s portfolio of more than 23,000 technology solutions, enhancing the company’s position as a leading provider of subsea technology.
For any questions or to learn more about how Ashtead Technology can assist with your project needs, get in touch with one of our experts.
Learn more about the OrphieCam
Learn more about the OrphieScaph
Phil Middleton Ashtead Technology’s Head of Survey & Robotics joined the company in May 2022 to further strengthen existing capability across Ashtead Technology’s core markets and drive forward our ambitious growth strategy. Here, he discusses his thoughts since joining the company and how through continued investment in our survey & robotics rental fleet and our people, we remain at the forefront of what we do to support our customers globally.
Now six months in to the role, discuss your time with Ashtead Technology so far.
Having worked in the subsea technology sector for many years now, I have always been aware of the expertise within Ashtead Technology and the extensive availability of quality equipment the company has to offer customers. Now as an employee, I have been blown away by the breadth and depth of capability throughout the business and the company’s unwavering commitment to quality and service excellence, which is interwoven into everything the company does, and stands for.
Ashtead Technology is on an ambitious growth journey and it is great to be part of a business that has the expertise, talent, resources and buying power to lead the way in the sector and make a real difference to our customers.
What are the biggest challenges in the market and how is Ashtead Technology addressing these?
In all the customer conversations I’ve had, the main challenges are equipment shortages, the lack of competent and skilled personnel and supply chain constraints which all have the potential to negatively affect the timely, safe and efficient delivery of our customers ‘projects.
Ashtead Technology is addressing the equipment availability shortages through ongoing investment in our subsea equipment rental fleet which has in excess of 17,000 assets. Early engagement with both customers and our suppliers is key to ensuring we have visibility of their short, medium, and longer-term requirements enabling us to plan ahead and secure the availability of equipment.
We also take a proactive approach to training our people so we have a highly competent and available workforce to support the mobilisation of mission critical equipment. Mentorship and on-the-job training are fundamental to the career development journey of our employees. This ensures that essential expertise is nurtured within the business and passed on to the next generation of talent enabling them to excel and thrive in a fast-growing environment and deliver for our customers. Should we feel there is a competency gap, we provide our employees with practical training from the OEM so our global pool of technicians have an expert understanding of our entire fleet of subsea equipment.
This commitment to technical excellence is also evidenced by our local community involvement in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) initiatives, where are broad knowledge and expertise is shared with local schools, colleges and universities.
Furthermore we provide equipment awareness training to our key customers which provides a high level understanding of our equipment, ensuring mobilisations and offshore operations run smoothly.
What’s next for Ashtead Technology in the survey and robotics field?
As a progressive and pioneering business, we continually aim to offer the broadest and most technologically advanced subsea equipment from leading manufacturers.
Ongoing investment is essential, and we have committed to further capital expenditure for 2023 and beyond to ensure that our portfolio of technologies continues to meet our customers‘ current and future operational challenges.
