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Damien Welch
Foundation Degree Programme
My background is in carpentry and joinery. I completed a two year apprenticeship in carpentry and joinery and then went on to study for an NVQ Level 3 in Advanced Carpentry and Site Supervision.
Matthew Armitage
Quantity Surveyor
Graduate Development Programme
After my A levels I went and studied at Loughborough University doing Commercial Management and Quantity Surveying. This was a sponsored course by Kier, where I got a bursary every year for the three years and also in the third year I did a sandwich course, which basically meant I went and worked with Kier for a year.
Candis Scudder
Foundation Degree Programme
I went to University of Kent in Canterbury and studied Criminology and Sociology.
Edwardo Egurola
Civil Engineer
Graduate Development Programme
I studied Civil Engineering at the University of Nottingham.
Khubaib Raja
Quantity Surveyor
Graduate Development Programme
I studied Mathematics at Glasgow University as a bachelor's degree. Once I finished that I moved onto a postgraduate degree in Construction and Property Management.
Ben Woodgate
Construction Management
Graduate Development Programme
I went to University and studied Construction Management and came out with a half decent degree.
Julia Wilson
Civil Engineer
Graduate Development Programme
Before University I applied for sponsorship with Kier and they gave me a summer placement even before I started university. While I was at University I had a few summer placements and I also had an industrial year with Kier. So after university I'd had lots of experience with Kier and we both seemed to like each other so they offered me a job and here I am now!
Damien Welch
Foundation Degree Programme
What first attracted me to Kier, was I saw an advertisement whilst I was completing my NVQ Level 3.
Candis Scudder
Foundation Degree Programme
So when I graduated from university, I had qualifications but I wasn't actually trained to do anything. I was looking for a job that would give me that training and experience at the same time.
Khubaib Raja
Quantity Surveyor
Graduate Development Programme
They are one of the bigger construction companies in the UK. So you want to be involved in the bigger projects, that's why you're there.
Matthew Armitage
Quantity Surveyor
Graduate Development Programme
It's was Kier's reputation really at first that got me involved with thinking about going with the company.
Julia Wilson
Civil Engineer
Graduate Development Programme
I knew I wanted to do civil engineering, so I looked around at all the different companies. Kier's a very well respected company and they've got a great graduate programme, so I applied for sponsorship with them.
Matthew Armitage
Quantity Surveyor
Graduate Development Programme
The graduate programme is set up for four years, it's a structured training programme. Basically there's so many courses you're meant to do in every year, but you've got the opportunity to sit down with your manager, your mentor, and go through and adjust that to suit your development.
Julia Wilson
Civil Engineer
Graduate Development Programme
When I joined Kier, they put me on the Graduate Programme and we've had all sorts of different training, the training's been absolutely great.
Matthew Armitage
Quantity Surveyor
Graduate Development Programme
You can manipulate your training to suit your own development, enhance your strengths and also pick up where your weaknesses lie as well.
Damien Welch
Foundation Degree Programme
After coming off the tools into the construction industry, it's very computer oriented so I wasn't up-to-speed; I wasn't very computer literate to be honest. So Kier decided to put me on a Level 1&2 Excel course which really helped out with a lot of my rotations within the foundation degree.
James Biggs
Design & Build
Graduate Development Programme
Kier will speak with you and delegate you a mentor relevant to the Chartership that you're trying to gain. And they'll ensure that your programme, your training needs, are catered within those meetings.
Damien Welch
Foundation Degree Programme
You're never on your own. There's always someone to talk to, if you've got an issue with an assignment, or something to do with the degree.
Khubaib Raja
Quantity Surveyor
Graduate Development Programme
You're doing courses such as Estimating, Contracts...
Candis Scudder
Foundation Degree Programme
Initially I went on a First Aid course.
Ben Woodgate
Construction Management
Graduate Development Programme
...how to manage subcontractors.
Candis Scudder
Foundation Degree Programme
I did a fire warden course.
Ben Woodgate
Construction Management
Graduate Development Programme
...how to deal with your time management.
Matthew Armitage
Quantity Surveyor
Graduate Development Programme
Kier run a leadership skills course at Sandhurst, which is basically run by ex-military staff and they teach you the philosophies of leadership that are taught within the army. And that then helps you to work within your team on site.
Khubaib Raja
Quantity Surveyor
Graduate Development Programme
Courses that are site related, so Health & Safety courses for example which are acquired on site.
Candis Scudder
Foundation Degree Programme
I've been on a bid writing course.
Edwardo Egurola
Civil Engineer
Graduate Development Programme
One day courses, two day courses. It's all on different things, whether it's technical, Health & Safety or management.
Candis Scudder
Foundation Degree Programme
I've done a marketing course, a Word course, so I've done various courses.
Ben Woodgate
Construction Management
Graduate Development Programme
Every course you can think of really.
Candis Scudder
Foundation Degree Programme
As well as the foundation degree.
Julia Wilson
Civil Engineer
Graduate Development Programme
All the different courses I've been on have been even better than the courses I've had at university.
Ben Woodgate
Construction Management
Graduate Development Programme
I think I've got a load of certificates of training courses which is about (holds three inches) at least that thick.
Julia Wilson
Civil Engineer
Graduate Development Programme
There's no such thing as a typical day, which is why my job's really exciting and why I never get bored.
Matthew Armitage
Quantity Surveyor
Graduate Development Programme
Um typical? Typical day probably start around 7.30am, 8 o'clock.
Julia Wilson
Civil Engineer
Graduate Development Programme
I start off every day with a strong cup of tea.
Edwardo Egurola
Civil Engineer
Graduate Development Programme
I would probably check my emails, make sure there's no new information from the designers.
Matthew Armitage
Quantity Surveyor
Graduate Development Programme
Have a cup of coffee!
Khubaib Raja
Quantity Surveyor
Graduate Development Programme
At the moment I'm dealing with subcontractors, the procurement process in general.
Ben Woodgate
Construction Management
Graduate Development Programme
Pick up on drawings and searching through drawings to see where any construction clashes are.
Candis Scudder
Foundation Degree Programme
My typical day would consist of completing a pre-qualification questionnaire, as my main role is as a Marketing Assistant.
Ben Woodgate
Construction Management
Graduate Development Programme
I basically do a lot of talking, liaising with the client.. client between the client, architect to subcontractors.
Matthew Armitage
Quantity Surveyor
Graduate Development Programme
Usually have a few meetings with subcontractors, discuss their progress on site. Then you might have a team meeting on site – just the Kier team – to run through where everyone's at.
James Biggs
Design & Build
Graduate Development Programme
Reviewing the drawings that are delivered by the consultants, ensuring that they're adequate for the construction team to build them to.
Edwardo Egurola
Civil Engineer
Graduate Development Programme
And if they have any trouble with any of the design then I can either think about it and solve it or take it back to the designers if needed.
Damien Welch
Foundation Degree Programme
We would have to report against programmes to various levels of management.
Matthew Armitage
Quantity Surveyor
Graduate Development Programme
You may have to do measures – measure the work that's been done and then value it.
Damien Welch
Foundation Degree Programme
General site supervision, to make sure Health & Safety is compliant on site.
Khubaib Raja
Quantity Surveyor
Graduate Development Programme
As a quantity surveyor I work on the commercial side of the project, we're also dealing with keeping an eye on the costs and running the project itself. We're also dealing with the procurement side, so that's all to do with bringing in subcontractors.
Matthew Armitage
Quantity Surveyor
Graduate Development Programme
My role within the site is to manage subcontractor accounts, so you have three or four accounts to manage and that basically means valuing the works that have been priced already – valuing any additional works and basically helping the subcontractors achieve their goals of completing their works on time and on budget.
Edwardo Egurola
Civil Engineer
Graduate Development Programme
I'm a site engineer, so I basically liaise with designers and subcontractors to ensure that the building is built correctly to all the drawings and design specifications.
James Biggs
Design & Build
Graduate Development Programme
As a design co-ordinator you carry out specific roles to ensure that the design is delivered to the construction team for it to be constructed successfully.
Julia Wilson
Civil Engineer
Graduate Development Programme
My role as a civil engineer is to make sure that everything on site is put in exactly the right place, and I've also got to have an understanding of how the building works so if we do need to change anything small on-site, I can think of ideas that might work and that might make sure that the building doesn't fall down.
Julia Wilson
Civil Engineer
Graduate Development Programme
We all have to get up early to start work on site, but there's a great sense of teamwork on site. And the crac on site's really good – everyone's a good laugh!
Ben Woodgate
Construction Management
Graduate Development Programme
Most of the time on site there's a lot of banter, a great atmosphere.
Matthew Armitage
Quantity Surveyor
Graduate Development Programme
Probably the best way to describe it is like a big family. I mean you have arguments, you have laughs, you have jokes. It's a good place to be. You've all got to work together to achieve the overall goal.
Ben Woodgate
Construction Management
Graduate Development Programme
It doesn't really feel like work. The day always goes quickly.
Damien Welch
Foundation Degree Programme
Every day is different. You have some good banter out on site, but then obviously when there's deadlines to be met or a project's at a handover stage things can get pretty hectic.
Edwardo Egurola
Civil Engineer
Graduate Development Programme
You're under a lot of pressure most of the time, but at the same time the atmosphere's quite friendly.
Matthew Armitage
Quantity Surveyor
Graduate Development Programme
When everything's working well, it's probably one of the best places you can be.
Ben Woodgate
Construction Management
Graduate Development Programme
It's fun, good fun.
Damien Welch
Foundation Degree Programme
I see my future with Kier progressing towards Construction Manager or Project Manager.
Khubaib Raja
Quantity Surveyor
Graduate Development Programme
Hopefully I'll gain a lot more experience in the coming years. There's a lot still to learn.
Candis Scudder
Foundation Degree Programme
I want to complete the foundation degree in Construction Management and continue on to gain a full Honours.
Damien Welch
Foundation Degree Programme
I'd also like to complete the CIOB and become a full member which is the Chartered Institute of Builders.
Matthew Armitage
Quantity Surveyor
Graduate Development Programme
The help that you get achieving the chartered status as a surveyor, from a personal perspective... it only makes you want to go on to a more senior position and try and develop your career as far as you can within the company.
Edwardo Egurola
Civil Engineer
Graduate Development Programme
Just progressing as far as I can, learning everything that I can and trying to get as much experience as I can in different aspects of the job.
Khubaib Raja
Quantity Surveyor
Graduate Development Programme
Some sort of managerial position I guess would be nice.
James Biggs
Design & Build
Graduate Development Programme
For me, with Kier, it's a lifetime career. I can see certainly I would like to head towards directorship.
Julia Wilson
Civil Engineer
Graduate Development Programme
Initially I'd like to progress onto being Senior Site Engineer and eventually I'd like to climb my way through the ranks and perhaps be Project Manager one day maybe and a director – who knows?
Ben Woodgate
Construction Management
Graduate Development Programme
They'll basically train you up as far as you want to go.
Matthew Armitage
Quantity Surveyor
Graduate Development Programme
Probably the best bit is the variety.
Candis Scudder
Foundation Degree Programme
I love the variety in my job. Each day is different depending on which job I'm doing makes a big difference to the day.
Matthew Armitage
Quantity Surveyor
Graduate Development Programme
...plus the fact that you get challenged and pushed.
Edwardo Egurola
Civil Engineer
Graduate Development Programme
Every day is different, so you go into your job and you don't know what you're going to do that day.
Damien Welch
Foundation Degree Programme
Best part of the job is the banter on site. You could be having a heated discussion with somebody one day and then be having a laugh and a joke with them in the canteen the next day.
James Biggs
Design & Build
Graduate Development Programme
The best part about my job would be liaising with a number of different consultants and clients.
Khubaib Raja
Quantity Surveyor
Graduate Development Programme
The best part I guess has to be the completion of the project itself. You can't get any better than that.
Julia Wilson
Civil Engineer
Graduate Development Programme
The best part about my job is definitely getting to build a building, I mean a year ago there was just a hole in the ground and now there's this great big, sparkly new school.
Ben Woodgate
Construction Management
Graduate Development Programme
The worst part of my job is when I find something I don't understand.
Candis Scudder
Foundation Degree Programme
My job requires me to work to some strict deadlines which means it's sometimes very tight to get the job done.
James Biggs
Design & Build
Graduate Development Programme
The worst part about my job I suppose would have to be reading through specifications.
Candis Scudder
Foundation Degree Programme
It's also difficult sometimes to find a work/uni balance so you have to be very determined.
Matthew Armitage
Quantity Surveyor
Graduate Development Programme
Probably the worst bit is when you've actually finished your job and you've then got to go to a new job as you've got to leave people you've been working with behind, possibly going to start afresh with a completely new team.
Damien Welch
Foundation Degree Programme
The worst part of the job at Kier is the hours spent on site.
Edwardo Egurola
Civil Engineer
Graduate Development Programme
It's 7.30am to 5.30pm which is a long day, and especially if you have to travel it makes it even longer.
Julia Wilson
Civil Engineer
Graduate Development Programme
It's definitely got to be waking up early in the morning but I've got used to that now.
Damien Welch
Foundation Degree Programme
It's always worthwhile because, you know, in the end the rewards are good.
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