Spotlight on Lewis Cheeseman - Operations Director, NES Fircroft
About Lewis
Lewis is Operations Director for Power & Renewables in the Middle East and is responsible for helping his clients identify and mobilise talent into their business or projects as quickly as possible.
Lewis has experience supporting major projects across the region, such as the NEOM Green Hydrogen Project, Mohammed Bin Rashid Solar Park, Amaala Renewables Supply System, Al Henakiyah Solar Project, and other new ground-breaking projects in the region.
Comment from Lewis:
“NES Fircroft is one of the region's most significant workforce solutions providers and over the past 20+ years, has expanded across the Middle East. Our expert in-house teams support clients through all stages of the project life cycle, ensuring all mobilisation and local labour law requirements are handled efficiently and compliantly. NESF operations have grown and evolved with the region and have aligned strategies to support each country's nationalisation vision. NESF is the market leader in compliantly supplying workforce solutions and technical talent across the Middle East and has the regional and global footprint to support your business now and in the future.”
What do you think are the main challenges facing the energy industry today?
The energy industry is currently navigating several challenges, primarily revolving around the technology needed for the energy transition and the skills gap accompanying it. Although having the right technology is essential, it requires skilled and diverse teams to implement it effectively to ensure the energy sector can meet the demands of the transition to Net Zero. The industry must address the need for a sustainable talent pipeline to ensure the workforce is equipped with the skills needed to drive this transition forward.
How do you feel about the representation of women in the energy sector?
Whilst the energy sector has traditionally been male-dominated, we are seeing positive changes with an influx of women filling roles across industries. Many women are motivated by the opportunity to tackle climate change, one of the biggest challenges of our time. However, a noticeable representation gap remains, particularly in engineering and senior management roles. Women tend to be more prevalent in project management positions, while men dominate the engineering field. This disparity highlights the ongoing challenges, such as the need for more robust diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which are proven to lead to better business performance.
How can we attract more women to the solar sector in the MENA?
NES Fircroft’s recent “Women in Energy study” showed that when it comes to choosing an employer, women are more inclined to show interest when there is a commitment to DE&I and an inclusive workplace culture. Our data shows women are looking for roles with the benefits of flexibility, personal and professional development, mentoring, and support from their employer.
The solar sector offers ample opportunities for women, including better pay, groundbreaking projects, and future career growth potential. To attract the best talent it is important for employers to showcase these aspects in their Employee Value Proposition and deliver on their promised company benefits.
We must also recognise that being in this industry does not necessarily mean you have to be a Solar Engineer. There are many career avenues, such as Manufacturing, Contracts, Asset Management, Investment, Legal, Finance and more. We can hopefully attract more women to the sector by promoting the variety of roles available.
Could you highlight the ways in which NES Fircroft supports MENA’s solar industry?
NES Fircroft has a huge global network and local market knowledge of the solar industry, providing cost-effective energy workforce solutions to businesses worldwide. Recognising the solar sector’s potential, we are proud to be partnered with MESIA, promoting solar job opportunities in the Middle Eastern market. We also have dedicated offices in the Middle East, with local teams that have exceptional knowledge of the culture and compliance laws.
Over the years, we have recruited thousands of skilled solar professionals across the industry’s value chain, ensuring we have the expertise needed to support the region’s growing energy demands. A key example is our involvement in a major project in the UAE, where we successfully placed 75 contractors specialising in construction, project management, surveying, environment, procurement, and more.
What advice would you give to women considering a career in the solar industry?
The solar industry and the energy sector are full of opportunities, especially for those who are passionate about clean energy and sustainability. The solar industry is an exciting and rapidly evolving field with tremendous growth potential, allowing everyone to develop their careers. The industry needs a diverse workforce to drive innovation and solve complex problems, and women are integral to this process.
My main advice is to find a company that aligns with your values – one that supports DEI and offers flexible working conditions so you can balance work with personal commitments if needed. By choosing an employer that values your contributions and supports your professional growth, you can build a fulfilling and impactful career in the solar industry.
About NES Fircroft
With over 90 years of combined experience delivering workforce solutions to the global energy industry, NES Fircroft is proud to be the world’s leading engineering staffing provider for the Oil and gas, Power and Renewables, Infrastructure, Life Sciences, Mining, Automotive, and Chemicals sectors.
We provide tailored staffing solutions sourced from a global talent pool by a dedicated, discipline-specific team of consultants.
We are a people-focused business and have access to the best talent wherever it may be in the world. NES Fircroft offers a full range of staffing solutions: Contract, Permanent (Direct) Hire, Managed Solutions, or a fully outsourced service. These services are complemented by an industry-leading support service and global mobility package to ensure our clients keep hold of the top talent compliantly for as long as they need it.