Nachrichten und Einblicke
Lisa Doyle on her journey from 17-year-old electrical apprentice to Group Procurement Manager at Mercury
Lisa Doyle joined Mercury in 1997 at 17 years old, just weeks after finishing her Leaving Cert and leaving secondary school.
Construction was not an obvious choice at the time. With no family background in the trades, the idea came through a family friend and then-Mercury employee who encouraged her to apply for an apprenticeship.
Stepping into a male-dominated industry, at a time when female apprentices were even more of a rarity, was not the typical route. Lisa’s determination and willingness to learn, along with the support she felt from Mercury from the outset cemented her path.
She recalls interviewing with Mercury at that time, almost three decades ago and how she immediately felt welcomed. She explains: “From that first conversation I felt like there was a place for me. I was given the chance to come in, learn, and see where it would take me”.
At 17, I started serving my time as an electrical apprentice with Mercury.
What followed was more than a decade on a Mercury site, learning the trade from the ground up. After 10 years on the tools, specialising in life safety systems and fire protection, Lisa took some time away to start a family and gave birth to a son. That time away and a new set of responsibilities shifted her focus. Lisa decided to go back to education, completing a number of courses in Industrial automated control systems, PLC , pneumatics and building energy rating assessors. This experience led to a seven-year career in a technical sales manager role with an electrical specialist. Teamed with her trade background, Lisa grew deep product knowledge: „I spent a lot of time visiting manufacturers and suppliers. I gained a lot of product and market knowledge“
Even while working elsewhere, Lisa always kept the connections she built at Mercury. “We always stayed close,” she says. “Even when we were working in different companies, we always kept in touch” After around ten years away, Lisa returned to Mercury in 2018. Today she works as Group Procurement Manager, a role she stepped into earlier this year. The position involves working closely with engineers, commercial teams, suppliers and clients to ensure the right materials are sourced and delivered for projects. Supplier relationships are also a key part of the job, often involving discussions around lead times and delivery schedules.
My background in trade helps me understand the impact of not having material on site and on time
What makes the role particularly suited to Lisa is the range of experience she has built across the industry.
I’ve worked on site, I’ve worked for the supplier, and now I’m the client buying the material. I understand every link in the chain.
Looking back on her career, Lisa says the guidance she has received along the way has played a big role in her progression. She credits her senior managers with encouraging her development and backing her as her career evolved. For people starting their careers, she believes Mercury offers real opportunities to grow: “If you come in through a trade, they encourage you to keep learning and developing your skillset. Mercury supports you as you move through the ranks.”
Now settling into her role as Group Procurement Manager, Lisa is focused on continuing to build on the experience she has gained across the industry, with Mercury’s support behind her. Having spent almost 20 years with Mercury across her career, Lisa says it’s the culture that has consistently brought her back. She speaks to the diversity of people across the business and the sense of inclusivity and sense of belonging she has always felt.
The culture here is strong. Mercury really backs their people.
