What if you don't know what you want to do at sixteen — but you're willing to work hard and stay open to what comes next?
Everything.

Meet Mark Nixon, Head of Digital Delivery at NIE Networks. Mark didn't have a five-year plan when he left secondary school. He studied economics, English, and geography at A-level not because he knew where they'd take him, but because they interested him. His career breakthrough came from a summer placement at an insurance company, then a clerical trainee role at Northern Ireland Electricity managing the company fleet.

But here's where the story shifts: Mark became curious about the IT systems behind his job. An aptitude test, a programming course in Austria, and thirty years of growing expertise transformed him into one of the people driving net zero ambitions across Northern Ireland. He even left NIE for eleven years to develop himself elsewhere — then came back stronger, eventually leading the entire digital delivery function.

This is a story about attitude, openness, and the power of a strong work ethic. Mark's advice to his younger self applies to anyone questioning their path: don't stress about knowing exactly what you want to do. Find an organisation that lets you explore, stay honest, work hard, and stay open to opportunities as they come.

In This Episode:
• Why not knowing your career direction at sixteen is completely normal
• From clerical trainee to Head of Digital Delivery
• The one thing that matters more than qualifications
• Why technology and IT are genuinely solid career choices right now
• Cybersecurity as a fast-growing, essential field
• How IT systems are central to achieving net zero
• Using data to make safer, smarter decisions on energy networks
• What it means to work as part of Northern Ireland's fabric
• Developing and leading the next generation of talent
• How the meaning of work evolves as your career grows

YouTube Chapters:
0:00 – Why technology is a strong career path
1:34 – School subjects and career uncertainty
2:36 – First work experience at Friends Provident
3:59 – The power of being part of a team
6:07 – First real job: clerical trainee at NIE Networks
7:10 – Managing the vehicle fleet
8:20 – How curiosity sparked a career change
10:12 – Discovering your passion through doing
11:44 – What really drives success in tech
12:30 – Attitude and work ethic are everything
14:08 – Why IT is central to decarbonisation
14:45 – Technology as a solid, secure career choice
16:29 – The huge demand for cybersecurity skills
18:25 – Being part of the fabric of Northern Ireland
20:03 – Advice to your sixteen-year-old self
21:25 – Career growth, leaving, and coming back
22:59 – What's really good about work

Thanks for watching Workplus, the podcast that shines a light on the people doing good work across Northern Ireland.

Find more stories, resources, and tools to help guide the next generation at workplus.app

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#Workplus #CareerAdvice #Technology #CareersInTech #NIENetworks #NorthernIreland #NetZero #YoungPeople #CareerJourney #Podcast

🎧 Thanks for listening to Workplus, the podcast that brings real jobs into the light.
🔗 Find more stories, tools, and guides to help young people and returners explore meaningful careers at workplus.app
📩 Know someone who would find this helpful? Share it with a parent, teacher, or future changemaker.
🎙 Follow so you never miss a story.

🎧 Thanks for listening to Workplus, the podcast that brings real jobs into the light.

🔗 Find more stories, tools, and guides to help young people and returners explore meaningful careers at workplus.app

📩 Know someone who would find this helpful? Share it with a parent, teacher, or future changemaker.

🎙Follow so you never miss a story.

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