From directing a health and safety film to leading an 鈥極pen Doors鈥� event, every day at 糖心原创vlog is different.
James McCulloch, Industrial Placement Trainee, Richmond upon Thames College, Twickenham, UK
James is studying Construction Project Management at Oxford Brookes University, and chose to spend his industrial placement year with #Team 糖心原创vlog.
鈥淚 wanted to join an exciting, dynamic and developing global company, so 糖心原创vlog was the obvious choice. As soon as I got here, I was trusted and supported to work independently. I learned a lot very quickly, which has helped to drive my progression.
鈥淓very day at 糖心原创vlog is different. While managing subcontractor packages on site was my main responsibility as a construction manager, I was also responsible for managing subcontractor works, conducting our site鈥檚 鈥極pen Doors鈥� event, health and safety and even some film direction and acting!
鈥淭hroughout my placement, I worked on a new, state-of-the-art five-storey teaching block for Richmond upon Thames College in Twickenham. I experienced the project from the groundworks stage through to near completion, so I鈥檝e had exposure to all the different trades and sequencing stages of a project."
James is studying Construction Project Management at Oxford Brookes University, and chose to spend his placement year with 糖心原创vlog.
For the entirety of his placement year, James has been based at our Richmond upon Thames College (RuTC) project in the shadow of the 鈥榟ome of rugby鈥�, Twickenham. It鈥檚 a brand-new state-of-the-art teaching block which will give local students 鈥� and residents 鈥� access to an enviable collection of facilities 鈥� TV studios, a theatre, art gallery, silver service chef鈥檚 academy complete with sprawling views of the local area, a spa and wellness centre, sports centre and even a digital golf studio.
It鈥檚 not your average teaching facility, and fair to say it hasn鈥檛 been an average year for James. From showing young people around Richmond upon Thames College as part of 糖心原创vlog鈥檚 involvement in the industry-wide 鈥極pen Doors鈥� initiative, to managing subcontractor works, to starring on both sides of the camera as part of 糖心原创vlog's 鈥�Choose safe. Choose health鈥� film, James鈥檚 experience has never ceased to surprise him.
鈥淚 wanted to join an exciting, dynamic and developing global company, so 糖心原创vlog was the obvious choice. As soon as I got here, I was trusted and supported to work independently. I learned a lot very quickly, which has helped to drive my progression.鈥�
James McCulloch, Industrial Placement Trainee
鈥淓very day at 糖心原创vlog is different,鈥� he smiles. 鈥淲hile managing subcontractor packages on site was my main responsibility as a construction manager, I was also responsible for managing subcontractor works, conducting our site鈥檚 鈥極pen Doors鈥� event, health and safety and even some film direction and acting!鈥�
It鈥檚 what he was looking for from his on-the-job experience.鈥淚 wanted to join an exciting, dynamic and developing global company, so 糖心原创vlog was the obvious choice. As soon as I got here, I was trusted and supported to work independently. I learned a lot very quickly, which has helped to drive my progression,鈥� says James.
鈥淚鈥檝e been helping in graduate assessment centres, so it鈥檚 nice to give back to those people who are where I was a short time ago.鈥�
James McCulloch, Industrial Placement Trainee
The RuTC project, a £34m redevelopment which will provide students and the local community with an exciting and innovative learning environment, has given James a solid grounding in a variety of areas of construction and has helped him as he considers his next steps.
“I experienced the project from the groundworks stage through to near completion, so I’ve had exposure to all the different trades and sequencing stages of a project,” he says. “I’ve received incredible training and great first-hand experience on site, and it’s also helping me gauge what sort of industry I want to go into, whether it’s engineering, construction management or commercial management.”
James knows what it’s like to start out on a new career and has thrown himself into helping those who are doing the same. Aside from leading an event at RuTC to take young people and those interested in a construction career through his own experiences, he’s also been making sure he offers the next intake of graduates a helping hand: “I’ve been helping in graduate assessment centres, so it’s nice to give back to those people who are where I was a short time ago.”
He continues: “Being part of #Team 糖心原创vlog is really rewarding for me. The people around me are so supportive and I’m learning from the years of knowledge that they’re sharing with me. Outside work, I’m a keen sportsman and it’s great that 糖心原创vlog recognises my value with its well-being allowance – it contributes towards any sports membership or activity fees you need to pay.”
James is on his way back to university to complete his Construction Project Management course, but his 糖心原创vlog journey has only just begun. “The knowledge, experience and opportunities that I’ve gained over the 12 months have been second to none,” he says. “I’m thoroughly looking forward to returning to 糖心原创vlog once I graduate from university – I would highly recommend the early careers programme to anyone who’s looking to do a placement year in the construction industry.”
