Starting Afresh Can Be Incredibly Rewarding

Case Study: Dhayalan Jeyaram - UrbaCon Trading & Contracting (UCC)


Success can sometimes take more than just hard work and commitment. Sometimes it’s also about taking chances, making sacrifices and being courageous.

After almost ten years working in a profession that he studied long and hard for, Dhayalan Jeyaram had the courage to reassess his life, change career and then move himself and his family almost 7,000 kilometres to another country. His big decision is now paying off in more ways than one.

Born in the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu state in southern India, Dhayalan gained a good education, culminating in a post graduate qualification in Cardiorespiratory Physical Therapy. A varied career followed with Dhayalan using his knowledge to teach others as well as care for his patients.

However, people’s lives change. Dhayalan had started a family and despite his passion for his work, after almost ten years he began to accept that financially he needed a career that would bring greater reward. He researched various options and decided that construction was the way forward.

He felt that his professional experience would be best suited to a role in health and safety. Passing the NEBOSH International General Certificate (IGC) with distinction helped Dhayalan to make the switch.

There has been a massive escalation in construction activity in Qatar in the Middle East in recent years. In March 2012 Dhayalan moved his family from India to Qatar to take advantage of the opportunities this has created.

He now works for UrbaCon Trading & Contracting (UCC); helping to manage safety on a range of projects in Qatar, including most recently the Anantara Doha Island Resort.

Dhayalan has continued his studies. He is making good progress with his NEBOSH International Diploma and is now preparing for an MSc in Occupational Health, Safety and Environment with Greenwich University.

However, his recent performance with the NEBOSH Diploma in Environmental Management has really helped Dhayalan to stand out from the crowd. Environmental management is important to UCC, and they value the NEBOSH qualification highly. 

The knowledge Dhayalan gained by completing this qualification has really helped him to “better deliver his duties relating to environmental management”. As a result of his pass, he was immediately promoted to the position of HSE Engineer and his salary almost doubled.

Not only did he pass, but he also gained the highest mark out of everyone taking the qualification in 2013/14, making him NEBOSH ‘Best Candidate’ Award winner. Dhayalan, his employer and his course provider SHEilds are all very proud of this achievement. He cites the support of his family as a key reason for his success.

Dhayalan is glad to have made his switch in career. Not only has it led to wider recognition for his abilities, but perhaps most importantly he feels it has brought greater security and stability for those closest to him.