Peri UK appoints Craig McDonnell as Engineering Director

PERI UK has appointed Craig McDonnell as Engineering Director, bringing more than 25 years of engineering experience to the role.

Based at the company's Rugby headquarters, he will provide technical leadership to engineering teams across the UK and support the design and delivery of formwork, scaffolding and temporary works for construction and infrastructure projects.

McDonnell's experience spans mechanical, civil and structural engineering. After studying mechanical engineering at Liverpool John Moores University, he began his career with a business that designed and manufactured braking systems for rail freight and passenger vehicles.

He later moved into civil and structural engineering at Mabey Support Systems, now Mabey Hire and part of the PERI Group. There, he worked on propping, support and bridging, and developed an interest in hydraulics and jacking systems.

He went on to work on movable structures, including passenger access walkway systems for cruise ships and link spans for ferries. He also worked at Morgan Sindall, where he developed expertise in underground supports and foundation theory, before joining J. Murphy & Sons.

At Murphy, McDonnell became Senior Engineering Manager and led the contractor's temporary works design team. His projects included early-stage utility diversion works for the new HS2 Curzon Street station in Birmingham and the Transpennine Route Upgrade between York and Leeds, including station improvements and bridge and structural modifications.

Early role

McDonnell said his experience on the contractor side shaped his view of when engineering specialists can contribute most to a project.

"Having such broad engineering experience helps me to see solutions that other people might not initially spot," said Craig McDonnell, Engineering Director at PERI UK. "I can meet with electrical or control engineers and understand their requirements, or go into detail with a structural engineer. The variety in my experience helps me see the bigger picture when considering project delivery."

He said earlier involvement in design gives temporary works and engineering teams more scope to influence delivery methods, equipment choices and site planning before programmes become fixed.

"The earlier we get involved in the design process, the greater the opportunity to add value," McDonnell said. "If a client comes to us 12 weeks before they get to site, my team can help them understand what equipment is needed, where and how it will be used, and how it can be installed safely and efficiently. Early engagement allows us to optimise the solution, improve productivity and reduce risk.

"If we're only brought in when a project is already on site and equipment is needed tomorrow, there's naturally less opportunity to influence the design. That said, contractors don't always have the luxury of long lead times. With PERI's engineering expertise, equipment availability and responsive service, we're able to respond quickly and support projects when urgent requirements arise."

His comments reflect a wider issue in the construction supply chain, where specialist engineering input is often brought in after delivery plans have largely been set. In those cases, suppliers can still respond to urgent needs, but have less scope to reshape how work is carried out.

McDonnell added that his experience as a client of temporary works suppliers gave him a practical understanding of what contractors expect from engineering partners.

"Having worked as a client of temporary works suppliers, I've seen first-hand what contractors need from engineering partners," he said. "Ultimately, it's about providing practical solutions that help clients deliver projects safely, efficiently and on programme."

Operational focus

McDonnell said PERI's engineering culture and customer relationships were key reasons behind his move. In his new position, he plans to build on existing operations rather than make abrupt changes.

"What attracted me to PERI is that engineering is front and centre of everything they do - it's about how they engineer the products they hire out or sell to clients and the service they provide day to day," he said.

His initial priorities include improving the efficiency of engineering operations and strengthening customer relationships across the business.

"It's all about evolution, not revolution," McDonnell said. "PERI UK has been supporting the UK construction industry for well over 35 years and benefits from being part of the wider PERI Group, which has been operating since 1969 and has more than 60 subsidiaries worldwide. We have a strong product base, outstanding engineering expertise and long-standing customer relationships. For me, it's about taking that foundation forward step by step, making incremental gains across several areas, becoming even more efficient while continuing to deliver quality designs, products and services to our customers."