Staff Success: Nathan Kettlety

DPL Group LTD are proud to announce the promotion of Nathan Kettlety from electrical project engineer to M&E Contracts Manager.  Nathan has been with the business since Ocotber 2011 and has steadily risen up the ranks from electrical apprentice, site supervisor to an office based PM.  His ability to build positive relationships with our valued clients, attention to detail and a real desire to provide a quality service has made him a valuable member of the contracting team.  We look forward to Nathan continuing his progression within DPL in a more senior role across both M&E disciplines.

Read more about his success story below.

Nathan Kettlety began his career at DPL Group in 2011 at 18 years old. Throughout his journey, he has crafted a remarkable career trajectory towards his current role of Electrical Project Engineer.

“During school, like most I didn’t really know what I wanted to do when leaving or what career path to follow. I followed the system and studied a 2-year course in Sport Science and Coaching at Colchester Institute alongside a part-time job as a kitchen waiter in a local Pub. Once my college course was complete, I knew this wasn’t the path for me. 

September 2011 – After finding myself at a loose end and needing a job, I applied for a full-time job at DPL in the warehouse as a storeman, which after having an interview on the Friday started full-time on the following Monday. This consisted of picking stock for projects, solar, general works and site deliveries.
This role quickly progressed into labouring for our Solar department on weekends, moving Solar panels, installing rail systems and generally helping with the electrical installation. After a few months of working both in the warehouse and labouring at the weekends, I was moved into the Solar department full time, quickly taken under the wing of an experienced installer gaining knowledge and skills not only electrically but the roofing aspect as well. 

March 2012 – I was asked into a meeting with both managing directors, where to my amazement I was offered an electrical apprenticeship starting in September! During school, this wasn’t something that had even crossed my mind, didn’t take me long to say ‘YES’ snapping up the opportunity immediately. The Apprenticeship led me down to being permanently based at Felixstowe Dock on the electrical maintenance and special projects contract for roughly 3 years. 

July 2015 –  Apprenticeship completed, NVQ Level 3 Diploma installing Electrotechnical systems and equipment ‘Fully qualified JIB grade electrician’. I moved back to working from the main office with the projects team, working as an electrician under a site Forman on some of our larger contracts. 

November 2016 – This was when things got tougher, I was moved up to site Forman managing a small electrical team on various small to medium-sized projects for around 3 years. During this period I learnt a lot, a real ‘ Sink or swim’ situation. Labour management, material ordering, design and installation, learning and developing skills either on the job or from my upstream project engineers. DPL put me through all the relevant training courses, SSSTS, IPAF, PASMA, First Aid etc.

October 2019 – Present  – I was given the opportunity to progress, down tools and take a promotion as an office-based electrical project engineer. Project managing, financials, designing and tendering various sized Electrical projects paired with the appropriate training. I’ve had the pleasure of working on all types of projects from Schools, Hospitals, care homes, warehouses, storage facilities and colleges within Cambridge. 

I owe a lot to DPL and how they have pushed to progress me to my current role. They saw something in me which I had never dreamt of pursuing. I would advise any young, enthusiastic and hands-on individual to find something they enjoy and go for it! 

12 years in, who knows what the next step will be… to be continued!”

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