Stories of people in construction

After leaving secondary school, I went onto university to study Human Geography at the University of Leeds. As soon as I graduated from university, I was accepted onto the Barratt Developments PLC Graduate Programme which I am currently completing. 

I plan, manage and implement the BIM process to meet the deliverables set out by the clients.

Tom works in computer aided design (CAD). He uses information from architects and engineers to create 3D computer models of structures and buildings. Along the way, he does a lot of programming and coding too.

Bianca is a degree apprentice working on the Thames Tideway project in London and specialising in tunnelling. Her team are building a 25km super sewer which will make the river cleaner and more environmentally-friendly.

As a Management trainee my role currently means that I spend time in different departments as part of a job rotation scheme. This is preparing me to become a more astute and experienced construction manager. In my day to day work, I assist my line manager with tasks that need to be completed to specific deadlines. I take any possible opportunity to learn and research areas of construction. As I work closely with more senior management, it is a guided and structured learning environment, which helps with management skills. 

Verse is a Graduate Apprentice Engineer, working on a refurbishment of the Scottish National Gallery. He collaborates with surveyors, architects and designers, manages subcontractors, completes health and safety checks and monitors build progress.

I always knew that I wanted to go to university to study, so after I completed my GCSEs, I went on to study my A-levels at my local college. I wasn’t that certain about what I wanted to do, so I chose subjects that I knew I enjoyed and wanted to learn more about; History, Politics, Law and Biology. Once I had completed those, I went to the University of Hull to study Law. When people find out that I studied Law, they do question why I now work in a construction job, but I believe that it does not necessarily matter what subjects you have studied before - it’s more about the skills that you can bring into the industry and the construction company you are working for. I’ve found this approach very useful when applying what I’ve learned from my degree, particularly on an entrance scheme like the one I’m on.

As a surveyor, Lauren measures anything to do with land: on it, beneath it and above it. She works on-site, using technical instruments to gather data for construction modelling.

I work as a trainee commercial building manager on medium- to large-scale commercial construction projects, ranging from five- to thirty-million pounds. It's my job to manage subcontractor packages and the programme, and assist in controlling cost and design aspects of the design and build contract to deliver high quality buildings within budget and to deadline. I deal with members of the design team, such as design managers, architects, consultants and engineers, as well as subcontractors and clients.

Jaeger drives heavy machinery on construction sites. She has licenses to operate a range of machines and uses them to help to build roads and other huge infrastructure.

I set out the plan of the building on site and indicate where everything is meant to go for the next stage of the construction process. 

When I left school I had eight CSEs, and took on various job roles including apprentice fabricator and welder, HGV driver, heavy plant machinery operative and manual labourer. I also spent five years in the Armed Forces within their Logistics Corps. When I was 32, I decided to enrol on an ONC construction course to further my career, with the view of becoming a Civil Engineer. Overall I spent nine years in university part time gaining the academic qualifications needed and on the job training, which was all supported by my employer. So I now have a BTEC National Award in Construction from Ystrad Mynach College, a BSc (Hons) in Civil and Construction Engineering from the University of Wales, Newport and a MSc (Hons) in Civil Engineering from the University of South Wales. 

Grace is an apprentice stonemason at Lincoln Cathedral. She loves working with natural materials and using her practical skills to preserve this historic building for future generations.

I work very closely with the architect and subcontractors to ensure the drawings are followed relentlessly – there are often a few discrepancies that require thoughtful problem solving! I managed subcontractors from various trades on-site, monitoring their quality, work outputs and health and safety. Health and safety is a huge part of my job, and the industry and I often make sure all the checks and paperwork are in place before work begins. I also work on client reports and pass on information from the site to my project manager to be delivered to the client. 

I went straight from secondary school to Stepnell after I completed some work experience with them. At secondary school I gained 11 GCSEs, including Maths, Design Technology and Physics, which have proved to be very useful in the role I am in now. I am currently studying for my Level 3 BTEC Diploma in Construction and the Built Environment at Birmingham South & City College, and I hope to progress to complete my HNC and ultimately a degree in my chosen subject area. 

I work for Redrow PLC, who are a house building and general construction company, and my job title is Trainee Designer. 

I’m responsible for ensuring there are safe systems of work in place throughout the business and that the business complies with health and safety regulations.