Charity bike ride across London
To mark the two-year anniversary of Kier’s partnership with Macmillan, Kier employees cycled across London visiting sites and offices raising money for the charity. The group raised over £10,000 for Macmillan.
Kier employee climbs Mount Everest
Mark Starling, SHE Manager at Kier, climbed Mount Everest raising money for the Kier Foundation and COINS Foundation. Mark reached the 8,448 metre high summit in May 2017 and raised over £37,000 for his chosen charities.
Kier sponsors the Surrey Hills Festival of Food and Drink
Kier works with Surrey County Council to maintain its highways and to support the local community, Kier sponsored the Surrey Hills Festival of Food and Drink. Kier commissioned artist Tiffany Budd to create a cow in Kier colours to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society, Kier’s corporate charity partner
Kier Christmas card competition
We held a competition with schools to design our 2016 Christmas card and the winner was Miranda Hogg from Belmont School. She received a £100 Amazon voucher from Kier for her efforts.
Meet Ally, the orphaned kitten
Whilst working at Alexandra Palace, London, through the Scape Minor Works Framework, our site team found a stray kitten on site. A kitten of one of the stray cats living on the Palace grounds, he was left behind after his mother relocated. However, our site manager, Daniel Iacob, took him and Ally is now fully settled into his new home.
Kier shows Pride in London
At Pride in London 2017, Kier marched with industry colleagues as part of the LGBT+ Construction Working Group, under the banner #BuildingEquality. Kier is one of the 18 partners that make up Building Equality, a group of companies championing LGBT-inclusion within the construction industry.
Easter Egg Donation
Our Kier North Tyneside team and mascot Kieran visited Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care hospital to deliver 150 Easter eggs to patients, donated by colleagues and subcontractors.
Kier Living Golf Day
Members our Kier Living team held a charity golf day in Leeds to raise money for our corporate charity partner Alzheimer’s Society. They raised a fantastic £10,000.
2020 Challenge
Our Construction division is attempting to raise £200,000 for charity by travelling from Orkney to Truro using only green, non-motorised transport. The 2020 challenge will be completed in 2,020 hours and so far they’ve travelled by punt, stilts and rickshaw to name a few!
Environmental community day
Our Environmental team in Solihull held a community day earlier this year and refurbished a porta cabin and garden to provide a vital indoor space at Bluebell Community Garden.
Erik Pieters lends a hand
Stoke City and Netherlands international Erik Pieters paid a visit to one of our sites in Newcastle-under-Lyme, where we’re building a new civic hub, to speak with our apprentices and try his hand at some plastering. Erik’s visit was part of Open Doors Week, where construction companies open their sites for the public to visit and find out more about the scheme. In 2017 we had over 40 sites taking part, more than any other company.
Dementia Friends training
Some of our apprentices in North Tyneside underwent training to become Dementia Friends, working alongside our corporate charity partner Alzheimer’s Society to create better dementia-friendly communities in the local area.
Cedarwood workshop
Apprentices working as part of Kier North Tyneside gave up their free time to convert an old shipping container into a workshop for local charity, the Cedarwood Trust.
Stogursey v Kier charity match
Our team working on Hinkley Point in Somerset helped local football team Stogursey FC by relaying their pitch and improving the drainage. A Kier XI then took on Stogursey to officially open the new pitch.
Highways road sign donation
Our highways team donated some old signs and cones to the Guide Dog Association in Newcastle. They’re being used to train guide dogs in getting round obstacles left on pavements, and the cones have been a great help for Wizard and Albert!
Kier donates ducklings to school
We were carrying out work at Bromstone School in Kent, through the Scape Minor Works Framework, and learnt that the school’s ducklings had been stolen. Our project team stepped in and replaced them, then surprised the pupils with their new residents in a special assembly.
Jack Butland tries his hand at carpentry
Stoke City and England goalkeeper Jack Butland visited our Stoke Minster Church project to help Kier apprentices carry out a refurbishment of its kitchen. Four apprentices were given time of their course to do the work, which Kier completed free of charge.
Kier and Peter Crouch team up for charity
Kier’s housing maintenance team, which provides a range of services to Stoke City Council, commissioned a number of mugs to commemorate Stoke City and England star Peter Crouch’s 100th Premier League goal. He kindly signed the mugs and we’ve auctioned them off to raise money for Stoke City Football Club’s community trust.
Proposals Assistant
Terri Baker
My role involves preparing tender documents to a high standard, co-ordinating with the Framework/Bid Manager and wider design team. Co-ordinating and managing KPIs across all Kier offices for a major client, providing training and guidance and being a main point of contact. Writing, creating and editing documents for internal and external use, including marketing brochures, newsletters, presentations and case studies.
I enjoy my role as not only do I love writing and editing, but I also love learning new things and every week I am given new opportunities to learn.
Electrical Supervisor
Levi Elliot
The opportunities I have received through Kier have been endless. I have such a supportive contracts manager who has guided me throughout the process and continually encouraged me to progress. I would recommend the apprenticeship route into Facilities Management to anyone, and if I could offer any advice to someone just entering the industry then it would be that you can never ask too many questions. It shows just how keen you are to learn and fully understand the task ahead.
Becoming a qualified electrician helped broaden my opportunities and I am now an electrical supervisor for the electrical small projects team.
Planner
Helene Lubineau
My role consists of creating and monitoring the construction and contract programme on sites, currently I am working on two projects in Cambridge. I regularly communicate with the site team regarding the key construction, procurement and design activities. I record and report the progress on site, both internally and externally. I also adapt the construction programme to optimize or mitigate if there is any changes in the process. I help to look forward and assist the team to plan the next activities.
I love this job as you are involved with and aware of everything regarding the site, communicate with all the subcontractors and every members of your team including the design, procurement, pre-construction and operational teams. As the planning team is generally very small, typically a planner and sometimes an assistant planner, you are a key element on site. As a planner you work closely with the project manager and assist them in order to help deliver the project on time. The planner role gives you a very multidisciplinary approach of the construction phase with programmed targets to reach, which is why I find it enjoyable.
Operations Director
Jason Taylor
I oversee the regional Construction Business within South Wales. I am responsible for leading the delivery of business development, work winning, construction and aftercare of the buildings we create. in South Wales. I have the pleasure of leading around 94 staff who deliver around £100m worth of contracts per year.
Its a real pleasure to create buildings and improve local communities and leave a lasting legacy, where we work, live and play. To see our staff grow and develop and achieve the best of their abilities is always a pleasure.
HGV Mechanic
Jamie Daniels
I look after Kier’s fleet vehicles on our TOR2 contract. From inspections, to services, to repairs; there’s not much I don’t do! I’ve always loved cars and I’d like to run the garage one day. My apprenticeship is helping me on my way to accomplishing this; I’ve already achieved my level two light vehicles and levels two and three heavy goods vehicles qualifications.
I’m well looked after – my team is a great bunch and Kier’s a good company to work for. I know an apprenticeship can seem scary, but everyone has been really helpful. The friendly environment has really brought me out of my shell, which has helped me in life as well as work.
Finance Graduate
Virgin MediaRhys Edwards
As a Finance Graduate, I am really allowed to thrive and improve as a young professional, both inside and outside of the role, which is what attracted me to the scheme the most. I’ve been part of the Mobile Management Accounts team for 3 months now and have been given responsibility and freedom to perform my role from day 1. Right now I am in control of the month-end accounting for a type of mobile phone contract we offer, and have been given the chance to really make the process my own. Away from this I have been busy allocating different costs to their relevant cost centres, creating balance sheets, and preparing a £50 million pound journal.
Another great part of the finance graduate scheme is that you get to experience a real social aspect to work. I’m 1 of 13 Virgin Media and Liberty Global graduates in my office, with many more spread across the country and Europe. The company encourage us all to mingle, and I’ve already had the chance to go to graduate events in Manchester, London, and Amsterdam. With all this happening so far, I’m really looking forward to seeing what the next 9 months bring, and beyond that the next 2 rotations on offer.
Financial Analyst
Morgan Scale
My role involves ensuring the company is compliant with all banking and joint venture requirements. I support the development team on new transactions and acquisition. Also I monitoring and report on our key performance indicators (KPI’s), new business analysis and investments.
I enjoy my role because it allows me to gain a financial understanding across the whole business as well as on individual projects. Managing financial programmes helps me to be able to identify risks and key elements and help contribute to the overall success and profit of the company.
Head of Design
Ian Warren
I oversee the Design Management role in Kier’s Birmingham office which covers the West Midlands area. I also deal with the various consultants needed on our projects including Architects, Civil and Structural Engineers, M&E Consultants, Fire Consultants, Acoustic Consultants and more. I am involved at both at the pre-construction stage and construction stage of a project, so I get to see it starting and finishing.
I enjoy my role because we work locally and therefore we impact local communities. Also everyday is different, we work with different people, we work on different projects and sometimes we manage different challenges.
Trainee Engineer
Robert Stocker
As a trainee engineer, my job role varies depending on the situation i am in. As a part of the Kier Foundation Degree programme we are recommended to move around various departments in order to gain a better understanding of the company and how it operates. Currently i am working in pre-construction BIM at Tempsford where my role consist of supporting a number of departments within a project by setting up design documents, creating scopes, working with consultants and producing 3D models to provide visual aid. Prior to this i worked as a site engineer at Farringdon where i was exposed to a number of different jobs and activities, some of which were setting out, training apprentices, working with contractors and more.
I do what i do because i have an interested in learning new skills and having responsibilities. It allows me to gain a degree while gaining vital experience to help me push my career further. It also gives a sense of pride and achievement when you have worked on a project and have seen it grow from a design into a functional building. i also enjoy it because i have the opportunity to travel with my work and see and experience new things that i would not have normally had the opportunity to see, whether that be with university or travelling on a work basis.
Construction Team Leader
Tim Boardman
I am responsible for the safe and successful delivery of highway maintenance and improvement schemes within the wider ASC9 delivery programme. My schemes are predominantly structures on, under or over the motorway network mainly within the Birmingham Box Area (M6/M5/M42). Our schemes are focused on maintaining and improving the motorway network functionality for Highways England and the wider economy. We always strive to do this safely, enthusiastically and professionally in order to give our client a quality and reliable product and service.
Because I absolutely love this industry and have done for nearly 30 years. Every day is different, full of challenges and opportunities to learn or improve. Our people, logistics and planning are fundamental to the safe and successful delivery of our works and I relish the challenges that these all pose when delivering projects. We ultimately leave the asset in a safer, better and improved condition and this has benefits to the wider society and our country as a whole. As an industry we typically do this diligently, quietly and without fuss; which I personally find very rewarding.
Construction Supervisor
Stewart Croft
I started working at Kier as an apprentice after I left St Francis Xavier School. I’m finding my apprenticeship really interesting and varied and a typical day for me usually consists of carrying out site inductions, attending progress review meetings with subcontractors and liaising with clients about the scheme’s management.
I also spend time working with other members of the project team to understand the various roles required to deliver projects. There’s a lot of competition for apprenticeship places but if you work hard and secure one you can learn so much. I try to take in as much knowledge from the people around me as I can as each day is different within construction.
Team Support Lead – Corporate Communications
Helen Pitman
I support the Corporate Communications team and its director. This could be anything from arranging a meeting for 2 people to an event for 250 people! In basic terms I am here to keep things running as smoothly as possible for the team day-to-day. I am based in Tempsford Hall, but sometimes I travel to work from our office in London.
I love working with people and this job means I can work closely with IT, HR and Finance as well as my own team. I particularly enjoy the variety of tasks within my role and the fact that no two days are ever the same. Kier is a great place to work and offers lots of opportunities to develop whatever your role.
Design Manager
Robert Toon
I manage the design process from inception of a project to completion. I work with and manage consultants to ensure a project is designed to client’s expectations, the correct building regulations and within the client’s budget.
I love working in a team and having a physical output to my work. From looking at a drawing on a page to seeing it built and transform the local area and peoples lives. Leaving a legacy is also a big plus!
Senior Project Manager
Philip Lavelle
I manage a whole team of people to ensure that a major construction project is delivered safely, in budget on time and walk away with a very satisfied customer. My job gives me autonomy and the freedom to innovate and look at new ways of doing things. The people are the most important thing on any project and successful teams are not created by accident they require a plan and a strategy.
I love my role because of the autonomy it gives me to in effect run my own business and gives me variety as no two days are ever the same. I enjoy good communication with all my team and like the fact that at the end of each day I can actually see what has been achieved.
Development Surveyor
Mica Latouche
I assist the development team in the evaluation and acquisition of sites. I also appraise and manage opportunities including the management of the development appraisal system throughout the bidding process. I regularly attend site for inspections and for site progress meetings with Project Managers and Development Managers.
I love my work because it is challenging, lucrative and it’s great to see final results of my work, particularly when every project is different. Additionally there are lots of networking opportunities to engage with other organisations.
Senior BIM Manager
Andy Boutle
My role involves a very wide and broad range of activities and functions. BIM is about modernising project delivery and cultivating more collaborative integrated teams, using technology and improved processes to harness efficiencies. The focus of BIM is more in data and better information management, which requires a cultural and behavioral change to the way we work traditionally, as industry shifts into the digital world.
My role is incredibly challenging as it involves winning hearts and minds working towards a collaborative BIM environment. The successes along the way are incredibly rewarding. In this role you are always looking ahead at the cutting edge of technology, processes and behaviors.
Carpenter
Ben Castle
I’ve been working as a carpenter at Kier Living since November 2015. My favourite part of the role is getting the chance to carry out a wide variety of jobs on site.
While I do prefer some tasks more than others, it’s great that I’m getting the opportunity to develop and learn valuable new skills, which will help me in my career as well as outside the workplace. I’ve had great support from my colleagues, which has really helped me settle in as an apprentice. If I ever needed help or assistance, they are always more than happy to help.
Plumber
Natalie Beech
I joined Kier in 2013 initially as a logistic technician apprentice. I was really pleased to be recognised for my work on that apprenticeship – I was nominated for the Rising Star award at Kier and I was also invited to London to meet Prince Andrew as part of an event to celebrate and promote apprenticeship schemes. I recently had the opportunity to become a plumbing apprentice, which I took with both hands.
So far I’ve learnt how to complete first fix, carry out repairs and maintenance, bathroom renewal and much more. I’m keen to keep learning and enjoy a variety of work at both Kier and College. I’m looking forward to what the future holds and furthering my career.
Joiner
Kieran Jassal
I enjoyed the variety of work and learning that’s part of my apprenticeship. My work is not repetitive, each job is different. My mentor was very supportive, that we even developed a friendship out of work. I have felt part of a team and I enjoy the banter with my fellow work colleagues.
I leave for work about 6.50 so I can be on site ready to start work at 8am and my working day finishes at 4.30pm. I would initially work shadowing a joiner, but gradually I became experienced to work away on my own. I enjoyed the variety of skills I was learning as each day was different. My long term ambition would be to work towards management level and to become my own boss.
Bid Director
Paul Leadbitter
I am responsible for managing a team that puts together all of the Housing Maintenance bids that we submit across the country. I coordinate activities, manage processes and make sure we constantly strive to be better at what we do.
There are different challenges in my role every day, and on every bid with no two days being the same. I am passionate about winning work for Kier and being able to put together solutions that satisfy the objectives of our clients.