Christian Bloch-Nielsen Is a Carpenter at DS Elcobyg

At DS Gruppen, we believe that talented people can continue to develop throughout their working lives – even when life takes an unexpected turn. Christian Bloch-Nielsen experienced this when an injury forced him to find a new direction in his career.

Text: Cecilie Grønning Krieger

The 33-year-old carpenter is part of the carpentry team at DS Elcobyg, where he has worked for nearly eight years. But his path to the job began with an injury.

“I suffered an injury while playing handball that damaged a large part of my thigh bone. The doctor said that if I continued working on roofs, I would risk being in a wheelchair before I turned 30,” Christian explains.

At the time, his mother was already working at DS Elcobyg and suggested that he apply for a position with the company.

For Christian, moving to DS Elcobyg was not merely an opportunity to continue his career. It also opened the door to an aspect of carpentry that he had not encountered before.

A Completely Different Kind of Carpentry

Although Christian still works as a carpenter, the tasks at DS Elcobyg are quite different from those he knew from construction sites.

Together with five colleagues, he creates recesses in the concrete elements. They ensure that there is room for windows, doors and other openings when the elements are cast.

“It is completely different from ordinary carpentry. Here, you have to be able to see what cannot be seen. You have to think about how things are constructed inside the concrete before it is cast.”

That was precisely what surprised him most when he started.

“You come in from outside and think you know everything because you are a qualified carpenter. But you do not. This requires experience, and you have to learn to think in a completely different way.”

Team Spirit and Flexibility Matter Most

However, it is not only the work that has kept Christian at DS Elcobyg for nearly eight years.

“I enjoy my work, I appreciate the team spirit, and I am really pleased with the flexibility.”

He is now the father of a daughter, so flexibility in everyday life means even more to him.

“It is wonderful when you have a family. If necessary, you can leave and come back later. That means a great deal.”

For Christian, this flexibility reflects the trust he experiences in his day-to-day work. There is an understanding that working life and family life need to fit together.

Still Passionate About Carpentry

Christian can still feel the effects of his old injury, especially when the working days are long and busy. But that does not change the fact that he sees himself remaining at DS Elcobyg for many years to come.

He believes he will still be here in five years’ time. Not because he has never missed life on construction sites, but because he has found a place where both his work and everyday life fit together.

“I do sometimes miss working on a roof on a summer’s day. Not quite as much when it is raining and snowing,” he says with a smile.