This month, we’ve spoken a lot about working with us, and the wide variety of benefits we provide. To round off Careers in Construction Month for 2024, we wanted to speak directly to some of our latest new starters taking up apprenticeships here at HCE.
Hayley, a Pre-Construction Apprentice, and Fred, an Apprentice Quantity Surveyor, recently began their career journeys with us. Their time is spent at both our head office and their concurrent college courses, during which they gain a rich mixture of experience and understanding of their respective areas, as well as the industry as a whole.
To explore this further, and get some valuable insight for those thinking about working in this field (and with us), we asked Hayley and Fred a number of questions about their experience so far – take a look below:
How are you finding your work at HCE so far?
Hayley: I’m finding things are going good so far.
Fred: Work at HCE has been enjoyable to get into. I feel really engaged with the work I’m doing, and everyone is helpful.
What does your day-to-day in the office look like?
Hayley: I get on with the various tasks I have, chat with colleagues, have my lunch, keep going with my work, then go home.
Fred: I just crack straight on with the work I have, or get something to do from one of the Senior Quantity Surveyors.
What do you personally enjoy about working with us?
Hayley: I really enjoy the relaxed environment – also shoutout to the Friday company quizzes!
Fred: I enjoy that there are multiple ways of working out how to do a task, and that I can contact a number of people to help me if needed.
How does your time at college feed into the work you do at HCE?
Hayley: It helps by reinforcing why things need to be done, and the processes that happen before and after we secure work.
Fred: College helps me understand why we do the things we do by breaking down the processes involved in being a Quantity Surveyor.
What skills have you developed since starting with us?
Hayley: I feel I have gotten better at decision-making, as I need to be able to prioritise the tasks that require more attention at any given time.
Fred: I have developed my skills a lot on Microsoft Excel, as it is a key tool in my job. I am now able to complete tasks I would never have thought I could do.
Do you have any advice for those who may be considering taking the path you’re on?
Hayley: Go for it. Be confident and just try your best!
Fred: I would advise people not to be afraid to ask for help as you are there to learn, and you aren’t going to know everything straight away.
A huge thank you to Hayley and Fred for taking the time to answer these questions. It’s great to see how well the two have settled into their respective roles and departments, and we can’t wait to watch their progress over the coming months and years as they progress their careers. To anyone out there eyeing up a potential apprenticeship or career in the construction and civil engineering industry, we hope this blog has provided some insight into why it might be for you.
As always, keep an eye on our website’s careers page here for the latest opportunities we have on offer.
Last week, we kicked off our Careers in Construction Month campaign by answering a simple question: why us? We strongly recommend giving it a read for a breakdown of who we are, and why you should consider working for us – you can find the blog here.
This week, we want to explore this further; both for apprentices, and our other roles across the company. To do this, we spoke to our Recruitment Manager Ewan Mason – who works with all new starters that join HCE – and pitched him a single question: what are the benefits of a career at Howard Civil Engineering?
From an apprentice perspective, a career in construction is a popular path to take. The Careers & Enterprise Company highlighted that, in a 2024 survey of 100,000 young people, construction took a top five spot in terms of career choice. But what can you expect from an apprenticeship with us? Here’s what Ewan had to say…
- Qualified Mentors: For aspiring engineers, our ICE qualified staff enable faster learning and a direct line of contact if needed.
- A Bespoke Learning Experience: We offer a structured learning journey from start to finish, encompassing your entire apprenticeship and/or education.
- The Wage You Deserve: Our pay reflects responsibility, which means you can expect to be fairly compensated every step of the way.
- Proven Progression: HCE is home to countless examples of staff who have progressed massively since they began, like Dominic Bourke; previously an Apprentice Engineer, he now works in a high-level managerial position. There’s also Steve Dakin, whose career journey you can read about here.
- Access To Autonomy: Those who work hard, show dedication, and pick things up quickly are recognised at HCE, and as a result are given the ability to prove themselves further with increased autonomy.
- Chartership Opportunities: For Quantity Surveyors and Engineers who display proven experience, we offer chartership opportunities to elevate their careers even further.
These are just a few of the many excellent reasons an apprenticeship at HCE could take you further than you had thought was possible. In addition to all of this, you’ll receive other wider benefits such as service awards, exposure to a wide range of work (housing, commercial, infrastructure, etc), company vehicles, cross progression (meaning you’re never tied down to your current path, and can expand into other areas of this industry and our business should you so choose), as well as the opportunity to work alongside other likeminded individuals that truly understand your role.
As always, keep an eye on our website’s careers page here for the latest opportunities we have on offer.
We previously began our Careers in Construction Month campaign with two key questions: who are we, and why should you consider working with us? We highlighted our multi-disciplined skillset, the more than two decades of experience we have in the industry, as well as how our team members are constantly developing in their chosen career paths. Below, we’d like to expand on this a bit more – here are the three core reasons we believe we stand out from other employers…
We Are Committed To You And Your Progression
We are believers in maximising our team’s potential, and have countless success stories to back this up. We recently highlighted Steve Dakin, who, over the last decade and a half, has moved up from a site labourer to a Contracts Manager, and is now a key pillar of our companies management. Helping make success stories like this a reality are revolutionary tools like My Training Passport, which help us ensure you are always up-to-date on your career progression, and never left behind or in doubt.
We Blend Technical Expertise With A Proven Track Record
For over two decades we have worked diligently and efficiently to ensure every project we complete is done to the highest standard, and none of this would have been possible without our exceptional site teams. From huge, eight-figure-value projects like Arla Mega Dairy, to highly complex roadworks like the more recent Greengates Junction improvement scheme, we are immensely proud of our history, and firmly believe that the wide range of challenging work we undertake provides excellent opportunities for learning, growth, and developing your skillsets.
We Employ Innovative Solutions and Sustainable Practices
Working with us means you get to experience the latest and greatest that this industry has to offer. We consider ourselves at the forefront of construction technology, utilising state-of-the-art plant, putting sustainability first, and constantly innovating on our health and safety practices to ensure your wellbeing is always prioritised.
If all of this sounds good to you, keep an eye on our website’s careers page as we continue to update it with the latest opportunities we have available.
September 10th officially marks World Suicide Prevention day. While this should always been an open topic of discussion, having a dedicated day where we can band together and truly acknowledge it is crucial.
As a construction business, we feel especially obligated to recognise the drastically higher rates of suicide among our industry. The Office for National Statistics reports that workers in construction are four times more likely to take their own lives, and as such we place a much larger responsibility on ourselves to ensure we promote mental health awareness.
This Wednesday (11th) at 10am, members of the Andy’s Man Club will be paying a visit to our head office in Leeds to deliver a presentation; they’ll discuss in more detail the work they do, how they can help, as well as more generally promote an environment where people can be open about their struggles. Despite their name, this talk open to all members of our team, and we encourage any and all of our staff to attend if they can.
We also have our own Mental Health First Aider team members: staff who are equipped with the necessary training to provide that initial support, and point you in the right direction – all with the guarantee of complete confidentiality.
Finally, we would be remiss to not mention the Lighthouse Construction Charity: a group dedicated to providing support to members of this industry. To get in touch with their helpline, simply call 0345 605 1956, or text HARDHAT to 85258.
July 15th marks the UN’s World Youth Skills Day. It’s crucial that we recognise the importance of handing down the skills we often take for granted to the next generation, as it’s ultimately them who will guide us forward into the future.
This year’s theme is “Youth Skills for Peace & Development”, which highlights the need to equip our youth with the necessary skills for fostering a more inclusive and sustainable future. To us, this begs an immediate question: what are we doing to help?
When it comes to nurturing a supportive and inclusive workplace, we’ve made strides to ensure this is consistently the case. Our Disability Confident Committed (DCC) employer status highlights our commitment to creating an accessible recruitment process and supportive work environment no matter what.
We also make it no secret that supporting apprentices and graduates is of paramount importance to us. Since our founding over twenty years ago, we have taken in dozens of them, and provided experience both on and off-site to give them the knowledge they need to thrive in our industry. Many apprentices and graduates who spend time working with our business go on to find successful careers here at Howards, and we’re proud to staff a workforce where many of them take lead roles on our various schemes across the country.
We also take great measures to ensure the work we perform is done as sustainably as possible, and have continually adopted this as a guiding principle behind everything we do. Promoting these practices now means a cleaner, more environmentally friendly future for those who come after us, and sets an example that we are confident the next generation will take on themselves to create a better planet for everyone.
June 5th marks World Environment Day, a worldwide event that recognises the crucial role of preserving our natural world. This year’s theme focuses on land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience, championed by the UN under the hashtag #GenerationRestoration.
Tackling This Year’s Environmental Theme
At Howard Civil Engineering, we deeply value our environment, and continuously strive to work in the cleanest and most efficient manner possible. Our commitment extends beyond our projects; we eagerly support organisations dedicated to environmental preservation. One such partnership is with St Nicks, a remarkable group we teamed up with in April to bolster their restoration and preservation efforts.
St Nicks, based in York, manages a 24-acre nature reserve, open to the public year-round. Their Green Corridors initiative is particularly inspiring, as it aims to reconnect and restore green spaces across York, fostering thriving habitats for key species. This summer, we’ll be embarking on more work alongside St Nicks, so keep an eye out!
Our Broader Efforts
Our involvement with St Nicks is just one facet of our broader environmental initiatives for 2024. For instance, where possible we opt to use IBAA (Incinerator Bottom Ash aggregate) instead of primary aggregates. On one project alone we’ve saved over 44,000kg of CO2 (an impressive 6.47 kg/t), and we’re just getting started.
Since the start of the year, we’ve offset nearly 200,000 litres of fuel, equating to over 500 tonnes of CO2e. Our investment in solar panels at our head office in Leeds has also been immensely beneficial, saving the CO2 equivalent of planting 33 trees. Additionally, we utilise solar CCTV and ECO welfare wherever possible, and recycle 96% of our construction and excavation waste, significantly reducing landfill contributions.
A Commitment To Sustainability Education
Moreover, we’re committed to educating the next generation about sustainable practices, in particular advocating for a circular economy. This model emphasises sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling materials and products for as long as possible. With the current environmental challenges our planet faces, imparting this foundational knowledge to school children is vital.
We invite you to join us this year in making a difference, whether through small actions like separating your recyclables, or larger efforts such as supporting local groups like St Nicks. Every contribution counts – it all adds up!
To learn more about St Nicks and the work they do, click here. For more about our ongoing sustainability efforts, click here.
TRUST US TO DELIVER YOUR PROJECT ON TIME AND ON BUDGET