Today, as we wrap up National Careers Week 2025 at Van Elle, we’re ending on a high note with the O’Hara family. Career progression and family support go hand in hand. For the O’Hara family, this couldn’t be truer.
With five family members working at Van Elle, their journey showcases how a strong workplace culture can foster both professional growth and a sense of belonging.
As part of National Careers Week, we spoke to the O’Hara’s to learn more about their experiences, career paths, and what it’s like working alongside family.
The O’Hara Journey at Van Elle
The O’Hara family’s connection to Van Elle began with Pat’s now father-in-law, who played a key role in establishing the company alongside Founder Mike Ellis. Before Van Elle, Patsy and Mike worked together at Bullivant’s with their colleague Tommy Connors. The trio went on to become Van Elle’s first Directors.
After moving from Ireland to England in 1989, Pat joined the company and worked on-site with Patsy, which led to him meeting his wife, Dawn. Since then, multiple generations of the O’Hara family have built their careers at Van Elle, becoming an integral part of its history.
“There were a lot of Irish working for the company in the early days, and I originally joined to help out a mate for a few weeks labouring, my career grew from there!” – Pat
“I was first inspired to join the company as I had always taken an interest in what it was my family did but also had an interest in maintaining and repairing equipment which is why I wanted to be a plant fitter.” – Kian
“When I finished college and was deciding on what to do in terms of work and building a career, joining Van Elle was a no-brainer to me after speaking with my dad and brother and seeing the progression opportunities.” – Conor
“It was originally intended to be a stopgap after university, starting in a marketing assistant role as a Media Grad. It quickly grew arms and legs, and now 8 years later I’ve been trained in a different discipline and made a career out of it!” – Corey
“In 1999, I moved to England, when my brother Pat was already working at Van Elle. I managed to get a job alongside him as a labourer in the workshop, and the rest is history” – Mick
From engineering to project management, the O’Hara family has carved out diverse careers, each bringing their own skills and dedication to the team.
Working as a Family
One of the unique aspects of the O’Hara family’s journey is the experience of working alongside relatives. While some might find it challenging, the O’Hara’s see it as an advantage, offering support and motivation to each other.
“Working alongside family is good, nice to be able to see members of my family around the workplace and being able to have a catchup and see how we’re getting on in our respective roles.” – Kian
“It’s great, especially early on as it can be stressful when starting a new job. It was good to have a lot of familiar faces around to make me feel more comfortable and to give me advice when I needed it.” – Conor
“Challenging at times but good fun! If there’s any questions, Pat has decades of piling experience, so he can nearly always assist.” – Corey
“For me, it’s rewarding to see my family members growing in their career and roles everyday.” – Pat
“Working with family is great. I’ve always felt comfortable in my roles, knowing I have their support as I move forward. My daughter, Jessica, also worked for the ledger department until 2019, it’s true family support we have” – Mick
Of course, working together also brings some humorous moments.
“There were a few occasions when I was a child that Pat took me to the yard and showed me all the piling rigs. It didn’t mean much to me at the time, but little did I know that it would become my career too!” – Corey
“A big memory for me is starting here after my dad, Michael had worked here for well over twenty years and being able to carry on the O’Hara name at Van Elle.” – Kian
“For a short while (before they had a driving licence), I had two of my children travelling into the office with me each day. It reminded me of when they were younger.” – Pat
“I always have a laugh when I think about the day my son, Kian, interviewed for his job. He took the train and bus from Derby to the Kirkby office just to make sure he’d be on time—it was like a trial run! It still makes me smile to see how committed he was.” – Mick
Career Growth and Changes Over Time
Over the years, each O’Hara has progressed in their role, developing valuable skills and adapting to changes within the company.
“My role has evolved slowly since I started in January 2023. More recently, I can see my knowledge becoming much more developed compared to when I first started, and I feel more responsibility on my shoulders.” – Kian
“Started off in 2017 as a Marketing Assistant, moved into a 2-year Trainee Estimating Engineer role in 2018, completed my LVL 6 NVQ, and then became an Estimating Engineer in 2020.” – Corey
“After 3 and a half years with Van Elle, I have gained some great work and life skills which will now benefit me throughout my career.” – Conor
“I’ve had multiple roles at Van Elle, from Labourer to Estimating Director. Van Elle has provided me with opportunities to learn, retrain, and progress.” – Pat
“I started as a labourer in 1999, moved to site supervisor with the piling division in 2005, and became a yard and site supervisor in 2022.” – Mick
Why Van Elle?
When asked why Van Elle is a great place to build a career, the O’Hara family highlighted the opportunities for growth, a supportive work environment, and a strong sense of community.
“Van Elle is a good place to work and build a career as they invest in their workers, developing their knowledge and helping them grow as people.” – Kian
“There are lots of different pathways you can take, everyone is supportive and happy to help. If you show initiative, you can progress.” – Corey
“The company has always fostered a culture of promotion from within, giving ex-site operatives the chance to retrain and take up roles in the office.” – Pat
“Van Elle offers great opportunities to apprentices, I’ve watched first hand how they have supported my son, Kian get the role he wanted in the construction industry” – Mick
They also shared advice for anyone looking to start a career in the industry.
“Give it your all and put in 110% to develop as a person and as an employee.” – Kian
“Throw yourself in and ask lots of questions.” – Corey
“Great prospects lie ahead if you work hard, listen to mentors, take every opportunity, and remember – every day is a school day.” – Pat
“Take your time, build your foundations, gain knowledge, and get experience, then take the next step up.” – Mick
Looking to the Future
As Van Elle continues to grow, the O’Hara family hopes to see future generations continue their legacy within the company.
“I hope the next generation of Van Elle can help to continue the growth and development of the company and allow it to flourish well into the future.” – Kian
“Everyone deserves to experience a positive environment like I had whilst starting their piling careers.” – Corey
“I hope that the company continues to grow and prosper, offering plenty of opportunities for the next generation.” – Pat
A Family-Focused Future at Van Elle
The O’Hara family’s story is a testament to Van Elle’s commitment to career progression and a supportive work environment. Their journey shows how a workplace can be more than just a job – it can be a place where careers flourish, skills are developed, and family bonds grow stronger.
As National Careers Week highlights the importance of career development, the O’Hara family’s experience at Van Elle serves as an inspiring example of how dedication and a great company culture can create lasting success.
Thank you to Pat, Mick Conor, Corey and Kian for chatting with us.