Every few days I sit across the table from an engineer deciding whether to join us, and the question underneath their questions is always the same: will the work here actually stretch me, and will I be glad I stayed?

I like that question. It’s the right one to ask, and it’s one I can answer honestly, because it’s the same question I asked when I joined this industry.

Peter Östlund, Managing Director – Europe

A business that has already done the hard part

Recruitment pitches are easy to write and hard to trust, so I’d rather start with what we’ve actually built. As specialists in turnkey high-voltage grid connections, substations, and cable routes, JSM Group designs and delivers complex 110kV cable routes and state-of-the-art substations across UK, Europe and beyond, the kind of work that has to be right first time, because it sits underneath hospitals, industry, and homes that don’t get to notice when it’s done well.

Our work near Berlin is a good example of what that looks like in practice. We’re building a 110kV high-voltage substation and around 6km of company-owned cable route to bring a 200MW grid connection, with room for further expansion, powered from renewable sources via the regional distribution network. The interesting problems on a project like that aren’t really about voltage or civils in isolation, they’re about sequencing: how you route a cable corridor around constraints that weren’t there when the network was first designed, how you keep a substation build on programme when three other contractors are working the same site, how you hand something over that the client’s own engineers will still trust in up to forty years. That’s the work. It’s rarely glamorous in the moment, and it’s exactly why I trust the people who do it.

That track record matters for recruitment, not just for client confidence. People deciding where to build a career want evidence that the business they’re joining has actually delivered under pressure, not just described itself well. We can show that.

This isn’t our first stretch of growth

It’s also worth saying plainly: expanding into new markets isn’t new territory for us. JSM started in 1998 as a specialist subcontractor in London, was promoted to Tier-1 contractor status in 2009 and has grown into a business of 300+ people across EMEA opening in each of those markets within the last few years. That growth has been backed by serious investment, from Rutland Partners in 2021 and, more recently, TowerBrook Capital Partners, and it’s brought us to where we are today: a business rebranding and expanding with real momentum behind it. Extending JSM across Germany and the EU is the next chapter of that story, not a first attempt at one.

I think that history matters to anyone deciding whether to join a growing team. It’s a fair question to ask, has this business actually done this before, successfully, more than once – we have.

Growing into one of the defining sectors of our era

In my opinion, now is a genuinely interesting moment to join us: we are expanding across Germany and the EU, because of where the demand is coming from. Hyperscale data centres, the kind now running AI workloads and complex data analytics, need grid connections and substations built to a speed and reliability that most networks were never designed around, and the wider energy transition, renewables integration, electrification, new industrial demand, is asking the same of the grid at once. From complex 400kV cable routes to state-of-the-art substations, our engineering solutions are the critical foundation underneath both of those stories. We’re not adjacent to the modern digital economy, we’re the infrastructure that’s enabling it.

Building from the ground up

Expansion means something specific for the people who join us now: real scope for initiative. Joining a business that’s still building out its EU footprint is a genuinely different experience from joining one that’s already settled into its final shape. You’re not stepping into a fully defined role in a fully defined structure; you’re helping build both. That means high-impact infrastructure projects early, real ownership of challenges rather than a slice of one, and the chance to shape how a growing business solve things, not just execute someone else’s playbook.

The culture that makes the delivery possible

None of the above works without the right culture underneath it, and this is the part I’m most protective of. JSM Group is built on ‘From Concept To Connection’, and I take that literally: the engineers who help shape a solution are the same people who see it through to energisation, not handed off partway through to somewhere else in the business. That continuity is deliberate. It’s how people build real ownership of their work, and it’s how more experienced colleagues end up genuinely invested in developing the people around them, because they’re still on the project when it matters.

It also means we’re honest about the trade-offs. This work is technically demanding, sometimes unglamorous, and the timelines are real. What we offer in return is genuine responsibility, colleagues who know the job, and a business that’s growing fast enough to need you to help shape it.

If you’re deciding where to build your career

If you’re an engineer weighing up where that next stretch of your career happens, I’d rather have that honest conversation than send you a polished pitch. Check out our projects, talk to the people who’ve been in the trenches on our projects, and judge for yourself.

Where it started

The hub was fitted out to support up to 30 design employees, with recruitment phased over the months that followed. Michael Booth, CEO, and Dave Rough, Chief Development Officer, travelled to India for the opening, meeting the local team and reviewing the completed workspace, a visit that marked the formal start of operations and set the tone for how the UK and India teams would work together.

Six months of progress

The major roles are already filled: design leadership and BIM modelling are in post, alongside further senior appointments made or due to join. That gives the hub coverage across primary and secondary design, cable design, civil design and CAD draughting in both 2D and 3D, the disciplines a substation scheme needs end to end. Recruitment continues in step with the project pipeline, with lead, senior and engineer-grade roles still opening across those disciplines as the hub scales.

The team is already supporting live work, including two 132kV data centre designs for the UK and one 110kV data centre design in Germany. The pattern of work is consistent: substations, grid connections and data centre power.

Led locally, integrated globally

Somansh Sharma manages the Faridabad office day to day. The hub works to the same technical assurance, quality assurance and delivery controls as every other part of the business, so shared governance and repeatable ways of working carry across borders rather than being rebuilt locally. India is not a separate outpost. The hub complements JSM’s design capability in the UK, where design co-ordinators run schemes through delivery, and it allows the group to grow that capability at a faster rate than would otherwise be possible.

Building depth of capability

Faridabad was chosen for its infrastructure and its proximity to two leading engineering universities, giving JSM access to a steady pipeline of emerging talent. The office itself sits on a major highway with a metro station five minutes away, making it straightforward for people to travel in, work together and build their careers in one place. Over time, that combination is what allows capability to deepen rather than simply headcount to rise.

The next six months

The priority is growth: from six today towards the 30 the office was fitted out for. The next round of recruitment is focused on a lead cable systems engineer and a lead protection design engineer, a senior cable systems engineer and a senior civil engineer, cable systems and civil engineers at engineer grade, and two further BIM modellers. Substation design remains the core of the work, with the team built around engineers who can deliver it consistently, supported by mentoring from the wider business.

For clients, the hub delivers more capacity when workloads spike, faster response across time zones, and the resilience of a globally integrated team, all underpinned by consistent engineering standards. It is a deliberate step in scaling JSM responsibly: improving certainty, speed and quality for the organisations that trust us to deliver.

Explore JSM’s full suite of services: jsmgroup.com

JSM Academy has officially launched its new Transformational Leadership Programme, with around 10 senior leaders from across the business attending Day one of the programme. The programme is being delivered in partnership with John Bullock of Solution Focused, our trusted training partner, and marks an important step in JSM’s continued investment in leadership capability and organisational growth. This group of leaders will embark on a structured development journey designed to strengthen their ability to lead from the front, inspire high-performing teams, and drive sustainable change across the business. The programme focuses on modern, practical leadership approaches that reflect the evolving demands of today’s workplace. Throughout the programme, leaders will explore a range of key subject areas, including:

Team Leadership – building trust, accountability, and collaboration.
Influencing & Communication Skills – leading with clarity, confidence, and impact.
Visionary Leadership – setting direction and inspiring others to deliver the future vision.
Corporate & Leadership Responsibility – leading ethically and responsibly.
Personal Development Planning – embedding learning into day-to-day leadership practice.

Day one set the foundation for the months ahead, encouraging open discussion, reflection, and a shared commitment to personal and professional growth. Participants were challenged to think differently about leadership, their impact on others, and how they can role-model JSM values in everything they do.

The Transformational Leadership Programme has been a real eyeopener. It’s pushed me to reflect on how I lead, communicate, and support my team, not just in the big moments, but in the everyday interactions that shape our culture. I’m already applying the tools we learned on Day one, and I can see the difference they’re making. – Riaz Cadersaib, Head of Pre-Construction.

This programme represents a significant milestone for JSM Academy and reinforces our commitment to developing strong, capable leaders who can support both people and performance as the business continues to grow.

JSM Group is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer, marking a significant milestone in the company’s journey. The incoming CEO, Michael Booth, will lead the business alongside Chief Operating Officer and Co-founder John Scanlon and Chairman John Leahy, as the company continues to build on its strong foundation and ambitious growth strategy.

Michael Booth served as JSM Group’s Chief Financial Officer since February 2025, playing a key role in shaping the company’s financial strategy and supporting its expansion into new markets. With a deep understanding of the infrastructure sector and a proven track record of leadership, Michael steps into the CEO role with the support of shareholders, TowerBrook Capital Partners, and Chairman, John Leahy, with immediate effect, reflecting JSM Group’s commitment to continuity and long-term growth.

Commenting on his appointment, Michael Booth said:

I’m honoured to take on the role of Chief Executive Officer at such a pivotal moment in JSM Group’s journey. Having worked closely with Stuart, John, and the wider leadership team, I’ve seen first-hand the strength of our people and the scale of opportunity ahead. As CEO, my focus will be on integrating our capabilities, communicating with clarity, continually evolving to meet industry demands, solving complex challenges, and driving meaningful outcomes for our clients and communities. These values are at the heart of JSM Group, and I’m excited to lead with them as our guide.

Stuart Wiltshire, who founded JSM Group in 1998 with brothers John and Mark Scanlon, is stepping-down due to ill-health but will continue to support the business with strategic oversight and guidance. Under their leadership, JSM Group has grown into a leading infrastructure services provider, with Mark Scanlon playing a pivotal role in the early success of the business before his departure in 2019 to pursue new ventures.

John Scanlon, COO and Co-founder, will work closely with the new CEO to ensure a smooth transition and continued operational excellence. Together, they will focus on strengthening JSM Group’s position both in the UK and overseas, with a particular emphasis on supporting the growth of data centre infrastructure and renewable energy projects, two key pillars of the company’s future-facing strategy.

Commenting on the transition, Stuart Wiltshire said:

It has been an incredible journey building JSM Group with John and Mark. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved and excited to support the next chapter of growth from a distance. With Michael and John at the helm, I’m confident the business is in excellent hands.

The appointment of the new CEO reflects JSM Group’s commitment to evolving its leadership to meet the demands of clients and a dynamic industry while staying true to its founding values.