Mark Duffy, originally from Mayo and now based in Stockholm, speaks highly of life in Sweden, praising its work-life balance, love of the outdoors and superior public infrastructure. In his role as regional director for Scandinavia at Suir Engineering, a company specialising in data centre operations, he appreciates the opportunities Sweden presents, especially for his sector.
Duffy has an impressive career record with Suir Engineering, a company based in Waterford, having been employed there for nearly 27 years. His journey started as a school-leaver in 1997 when he began as an apprentice electrician and climbed his way up to his current executive position. Over the years, he’s had the opportunity to work on noteworthy projects ranging from semiconductor work with Intel to large-scale pharmaceutical and data centre projects in Ireland.
Unexpectedly for Duffy, he found himself relocating to Stockholm in 2021 to establish a new office for Suir Engineering. This office predominantly deals with data centre projects across the Nordic region.
Duffy speaks highly of the Nordic countries, especially Sweden and Denmark, for their global leadership in green energy production. Sweden’s reliance on hydroelectric generation and Denmark’s use of wind energy make them ideal locations for data centres, he explains.
Despite initial apprehension about relocating his family, including his wife Siobhán and teenagers Molly and Jack, Duffy recounts a seamless transition three years ago, with language barriers being non-existent. Duffy admits his Swedish language skills are still in the works, but the high level of English spoken in Sweden and the Irish or British background of many contractors they work with means communication is never a problem.
Furthermore, Duffy has embraced the Swedish approach to work-life balance, contrasting it to the Irish approach. He states that the Swedes typically stick to their 39-hour work weeks, showcasing a different method to project completion compared to the Irish.
Stockholm provides an exceptional living environment, demonstrated by its top-tier education, healthcare and public transportation systems. The city is known for its cleanliness and pleasantness and isn’t overly crowded.
In the summer months, many businesses including parts of the supply chain, bars and restaurants, take a break for July and August. This can be quite shocking initially.
The culture of Stockholm is outdoor-centric, exemplified by their saying ‘there’s no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing’. Despite the fact that the winters can be long and dark, the summers are genuinely delightful.
While there is a difference in pub culture compared to Ireland, a strong Irish community exists in Stockholm. Suir Engineering sponsors the annual St Patrick’s Day parade, which is a sizeable event in the city. A number of staff members belong to the Swedish-Irish Society and celebrate the occasion with a meal, Irish music and dancing after the parade.
However, according to Duffy, although there are a few Irish pubs in Stockholm, the atmosphere does not completely correspond to that of Ireland. For individuals contemplating their career path, he recommends considering apprenticeships. Often, this choice is neglected, despite offering young people worldwide employment options, particularly in trades such as electricians and plumbers. Now, engineering is also exploring this path.
Completing an apprenticeship, such as becoming an electrician, offers various alternative career paths like engineering or BIM (building information modelling). Therefore, it presents numerous opportunities.
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