Pressure, what pressure…..🎯🐍
On Sunday, Nathan Aspinall, the player we sponsor, won his first-ever Euro Tour event and his first tournament in two years! 👏👏👏
If you follow darts, you will know Nathan's story, but here is a brief recap for those who don't.
Nathan is a two-time major winner, but since then, he has struggled with multiple injuries to his throwing arm, wrist, forearm, elbow, and shoulder, and if that wasn't enough, he suffers from Dartitis.
What is Dartitis? I hear what you say.
Dartitis is a condition that can affect darts players and severely damage their performance. It can be compared to 'the yips', an expression that describes the apparent loss of fine motor skills without any explanation.
In short, when Nathan tries to release the dart from his hand, his brain will not let it go.
For those who may not have guessed by now, I love darts. I have been going for years, and when a random message from one of my best mates, Dave Johnson, asking me am I interested in sponsoring Nathan, I know his manager, Martin Foulds, I thought, sure, let's have a conversation and see where this goes. That was precisely one year ago to the day (Sunday) when he won this title.
I have had the pleasure of getting to know Nathan since our charity darts event last November, and I am so pleased for him and his family that he is back to winning ways. The way he presents himself on screen is the same off, so I completely understand why he is such a fans' favourite.
So I will return to the title of this post: Pressure, What Pressure….
To give context to the video on this post, Nathan is playing one of the game's legends, Gary Anderson, in the semi-final. He is 6-5 down, and the first to 7 games wins. He needs a big score to put Gary under pressure on his next throw, or it's all over, as Gary is playing well.
Nathan doesn't, and he only hits singles, leaving himself with the highest checkout possible, 170, AKA The Big Fish. Gary steps up and misses his first 2 darts to leave him with a finish, so he lays up for 40, double tops, to finish and win the game.
Nathan had less than 30 seconds to forget his last throw and recompose himself before stepping up to hit the most challenging check out, The Big Fish: treble 20 twice and bullseye, which has a 3% chance of hitting. Easy, right?
Now, add to that a global audience watching live and 4000 German fans on your side, cheering your name and willing you to do this. The pressure to perform with everything that has happened over the last few years must have been ridiculous.
I should also mention that if he wins this tournament, he automatically is entered for several other high-profile events and does not have to play the early rounds to qualify to play, where anything can happen and does typically.
This means Nathan can confidently plan for the year ahead; if he doesn't, it means more matches, more travelling, more stress, potentially more chance of injury and even less time at home with his family, relate that to what we do day to day at Deploy and you're describing the daily life of one of our contractors.
Like a scene out of a movie, Nathan steps up and does the business, hits the Big Fish, the crowd goes wild, and I'm jumping around my front room like a lunatic. He then completes the turnaround, wins that game, and goes on to win the final and lift the title!! 🥳🥳🥳
If you like your darts and don't have a favourite, cheer on and support Nathan, as he is one of us.
Stand up if you love the darts…….
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Career advice for professionals ready to step into project leadership roles across infrastructure, rail, engineering, and energy. Making the transition from a hands-on technical role to a project leadership position is one of the biggest and most rewarding steps you can take in your infrastructure career. Whether you’ve spent years on-site as an engineer, technician, operative, or specialist, there comes a point where you might start asking yourself: “What’s next for me?” “How do I move from delivering tasks to leading entire projects?” If you’re exploring the path toward becoming a Project Lead in Infrastructure, you’re not alone. Across the UK, organisations within the rail, energy, utilities, and major capital projects sectors are actively seeking professionals who understand the realities of site delivery and can translate that into strategic, people-centric leadership. This article will guide you through what the transition looks like, the challenges to expect, the skills you need to develop, and how Deploy can support your journey with the right recruitment assistance. The Transition: From Technical Expertise to Strategic Leadership Stepping into a project leadership role means shifting your focus from “doing the work” to guiding, planning, coordinating, and delivering. You already understand the technical realities of how a project should run, what can go wrong, and what excellence looks like. That is your foundation. Moving upward involves learning how to influence outcomes, steer teams, and adopt a more strategic mindset. This phase often comes with big questions: How do I demonstrate leadership experience if I’ve never held a leadership title? How do I balance technical depth with people and project skills? Am I ready to move beyond the tools and be accountable for budgets, timelines, and teams? The answer is yes—if you’re willing to build the right capabilities. Common Challenges When Moving Into Project Leadership Transitioning from a technical role to project leadership can feel overwhelming, especially when you’ve built your identity on being “the technical expert.” Some common challenges include: 1. Letting go of hands-on familiarity Many professionals struggle to step back and trust others to execute tasks they once did themselves. 2. Navigating people management Coordinating teams, resolving conflict, and motivating individuals requires a different skill set from technical delivery. 3. Understanding cost, risk, and programme management Leadership roles demand greater commercial awareness and the ability to think in terms of risk mitigation and long-term project outcomes. 4. Communicating with multiple stakeholders You’ll now be expected to communicate clearly with contractors, engineers, clients, senior leadership, and sometimes the public. 5. Shifting from task execution to strategic decision-making This means seeing the whole project picture—not just your discipline. These challenges are normal. They’re also surmountable once you know where to focus. Key Skills You Need to Master for Project Leadership Roles To become a strong contender for leadership positions in infrastructure, you need a balance of technical credibility, people skills, and strategic thinking. Here are the top competencies to develop: 1. Project Planning and Coordination Understanding how to create programmes, manage schedules, assign resources, and coordinate teams is essential. Look into: Project management frameworks (APM, PRINCE2) Risk and change management Procurement and contract basics (NEC, JCT) 2. Communication and Stakeholder Engagement You must be able to explain complex technical information in clear, concise language that different audiences can understand. This includes: Client communication Contractor briefing Cross-functional coordination Reporting and documentation 3. Leadership and People Skills Project leadership requires guiding a team toward common goals—even when under pressure. Key sub-skills: Delegation Conflict resolution Coaching and mentoring Motivating diverse teams 4. Commercial Awareness Leaders must understand budgets, cost controls, and commercial risks. Aim to get familiar with: Budget tracking Cost-value reconciliation Supply chain considerations Risk assessment 5. Strategic Thinking The ability to anticipate issues, plan, and make decisions that support the project's long-term vision. This includes: Identifying bottlenecks before they occur Scenario planning Understanding regulatory and compliance requirements How Deploy Supports Professionals Transitioning into Leadership At Deploy, we understand that career progression in infrastructure isn’t always linear. Many of the most successful Project Leads, Site Managers, and Delivery Managers didn’t start in meetings; they started on the tools. Our recruiters specialise in helping technical candidates bridge that gap by: ✔ Positioning your CV and experience to highlight leadership potential We help you translate your on-site accomplishments into leadership-ready achievements that speak the language of hiring managers. ✔ Matching you with employers who value your technical background We work across rail, civil engineering, energy, technology, and defence industries that are actively developing the next generation of project leaders. ✔ Advising you on certifications and training that boost your leadership readiness Whether you need APM, SMSTS, CSCS upgrades, or leadership courses, we help point you in the right direction. ✔ Supporting your long-term career goals Our goal is not just to place you into your next role—but to support your journey toward becoming a future project leader. Final Thoughts Transitioning from a technical role into project leadership is a bold and transformative step. You’re moving from executing tasks to shaping outcomes; from working on-site to influencing strategy; from being part of the project to leading the project. With the right skills, mindset, and support, you can make this transition smoothly and confidently. If you’re ready to explore leadership pathways in infrastructure, rail, energy, or engineering, Deploy is here to guide you every step of the way. Let’s help you take that next step from site to strategy.