Exploring Web 2.0 in the built environment
Looking good for the future
I graduated a few months ago, and after having a Summer making everyone I know jealous, have now started Real Life. I felt I should share some of the experience of being a new grad in the construction industry, so here's a look at what I've been doing for the last three and a bit weeks.
On 5th October I started work for Laing O'Rourke. They've been sponsoring me for the best part of five years whilst studying at University. Now it was finally time to get stuck into work properly. Kind of.
Week one. The first week saw myself and 56 other fresh graduates meeting up at the Hilton in Dartford. We were a mix of Engineers (Civil and Mechanical), Construction Managers and Quantity Surveyors from all across the business. The first day was spent on companybrain washing induction. The second day focussed on HSE including topics such as the new corporate manslaughter law. An interesting couple of days, but on the Wednesday we got shipped en masse into central London and the very swish Russell Hotel. Here we stayed for another 48 hours covering information on professional training (with separate presentations from the ICE, CIOB and RICS), what we are expected to complete as part of the Graduate Development Program (GDP).
We also had sessions on networking and "Making the Impossible, Possible". The networking session was interesting and a good way of forcing us to meet new people but there were plenty of sceptics, particularly amongst the Construction Management grad's, about the training on correct amount of eye contact, the way to shake hands, etc. Funnily enough the evening after the networking session I headed over to the Be2camp@WorkingBuildings2009 after drinks where I finally got to meet various Twitter personalities including @EEPaul, @MelStarrs, and @LornaParsons.
To round of our induction week we went to The Holt, South of London. It was a day for team building and we went through half a dozen exercises, which required us to work in our groups of about eight to solve problems. I was a little disappointed in our group which was a little gung ho at times. That's the trouble when you only have a couple of engineers around...
Week two. After the weekend a group of elite engineers descended on Brands Hatch. 13 engineers from the newly instated Infrastructure Services division had a week to learn about surveying. Unfortunately the course was at a very low level, particularly for the 11 of us with site experience. We learnt bits here and there but overall I believe we could have squeezed the five days work into two or three and had much more time to go over things. My favourite moment was discussing with three of the others how tough engineering really is, whilst lying back in the hotel jacuzzi! There may have been a hint of sarcasm in my voice at the time.
Week three. Our final week of training saw all of the grad's, give or take a few, heading to deepest Norfolk to the National Construction College at Bircham Newton. This is a gigantic facility that allowed all 59 of us to get our hands dirty and try out some of the trades in which we are daily putting people to work. With plenty of practical work we looked at steel fixing, formwork, excavations, drainage, brickworks, scaffolding, plant and concrete testing. Favourite moments for most people included getting to drive an excavator on plant day and putting up our own brick walls.
So now we have all parted ways to our different projects. Personally, I am now in head office, trying to learn how to use AutoCAD and Revit as quickly as possible. One thing that keeps resounding with me, and has done over the last few weeks, is that despite the economic climate, Laing O'Rourke have put a huge investment into training for us. There may be news about the company laying off people, but this doesn't look like them battening down the hatches. It seems much more like the company using the situation as a launch pad.
I see it like going from living the easy life and eating too much, you starting putting on excess weight. When you first start going back to the gym, sure it hurts. But then you trim off all the unrequired bits and come back with a stronger core and in a much better position to push forward.
On 5th October I started work for Laing O'Rourke. They've been sponsoring me for the best part of five years whilst studying at University. Now it was finally time to get stuck into work properly. Kind of.
Week one. The first week saw myself and 56 other fresh graduates meeting up at the Hilton in Dartford. We were a mix of Engineers (Civil and Mechanical), Construction Managers and Quantity Surveyors from all across the business. The first day was spent on company
We also had sessions on networking and "Making the Impossible, Possible". The networking session was interesting and a good way of forcing us to meet new people but there were plenty of sceptics, particularly amongst the Construction Management grad's, about the training on correct amount of eye contact, the way to shake hands, etc. Funnily enough the evening after the networking session I headed over to the Be2camp@WorkingBuildings2009 after drinks where I finally got to meet various Twitter personalities including @EEPaul, @MelStarrs, and @LornaParsons.
To round of our induction week we went to The Holt, South of London. It was a day for team building and we went through half a dozen exercises, which required us to work in our groups of about eight to solve problems. I was a little disappointed in our group which was a little gung ho at times. That's the trouble when you only have a couple of engineers around...
Week two. After the weekend a group of elite engineers descended on Brands Hatch. 13 engineers from the newly instated Infrastructure Services division had a week to learn about surveying. Unfortunately the course was at a very low level, particularly for the 11 of us with site experience. We learnt bits here and there but overall I believe we could have squeezed the five days work into two or three and had much more time to go over things. My favourite moment was discussing with three of the others how tough engineering really is, whilst lying back in the hotel jacuzzi! There may have been a hint of sarcasm in my voice at the time.
Week three. Our final week of training saw all of the grad's, give or take a few, heading to deepest Norfolk to the National Construction College at Bircham Newton. This is a gigantic facility that allowed all 59 of us to get our hands dirty and try out some of the trades in which we are daily putting people to work. With plenty of practical work we looked at steel fixing, formwork, excavations, drainage, brickworks, scaffolding, plant and concrete testing. Favourite moments for most people included getting to drive an excavator on plant day and putting up our own brick walls.
So now we have all parted ways to our different projects. Personally, I am now in head office, trying to learn how to use AutoCAD and Revit as quickly as possible. One thing that keeps resounding with me, and has done over the last few weeks, is that despite the economic climate, Laing O'Rourke have put a huge investment into training for us. There may be news about the company laying off people, but this doesn't look like them battening down the hatches. It seems much more like the company using the situation as a launch pad.
I see it like going from living the easy life and eating too much, you starting putting on excess weight. When you first start going back to the gym, sure it hurts. But then you trim off all the unrequired bits and come back with a stronger core and in a much better position to push forward.
Add a Comment
Be2camp website sponsor
Be2camp on Twitter
Be2camp founders
Delicious
© 2010 Created by Paul Wilkinson
You need to be a member of Be2Camp to add comments!
Join Be2Camp