Find real world jobs you could do to Shape Your World

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.

Craig Garood

Construction contracts managers oversee projects from the start through to completion, ensuring that work is completed on time and within its budget. A contracts manager is sometimes in charge of a single scheme, or may look after several smaller ones.

Every day is different and every project is unique.Which means that I am actively problem solving and being creative.

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.

Cherry Lisle

I’m the first point of contact for enquiries around the courses we provide and I am responsible for ensuring bookings are taken. I also work with our supply chain to arrange asbestos awareness courses.

Before each training course takes place, I make sure all relevant learner files are prepared and available to the participants. After the courses I then manage the payment process, sending out invoices and helping with any enquiries relating to this. I really enjoy working at the Gas Training Centre, the team are really supportive and have helped boost my confidence.

Rachel Lindsey

I recruit for the Kier Highways business, filling vacancies across the UK. To recruit I use a number of methods including advertising, head hunting and following up referrals. LinkedIn and job boards play a huge part in my job, along with regularly speaking with candidates, hiring managers and recruitment agencies.

I enjoy the fast paced aspect of recruitment and working on a variety of different vacancies at any one time. I find the job satisfying, knowing that I have helped source new talent for the business, as well as finding the right career opportunity for a candidate.

Tim Lacy

I help our Group and Property divisions deliver on their strategic SHEA (Safety, Health, Environment, Assurance) goals for Vision 2020. I do this through the development and application of SHE programmes. I help ensure that our business units remain compliant with all SHE related legislation and drive to deliver continuous SHE improvements.

I believe that good health and safety is vital for any business, so the management of health and safety is an important role that provides added value to any organisation. It is a technical function that utilises my professional training and experience. It is a challenging and varied role that provides job satisfaction, exposure to many other business functions, as well as a mix of activities at offices and sites.

Michael Simmonds

My role involves the implementation of our health, safety and environmental action plan by monitoring and mentoring other employees in our offices and on our projects in the central region.

I am passionate about my role because I have always loved the building of anything and when in the world of safety, it makes you feel that you are making a difference and assuring the safety of everyone on site. It is a very interesting career because you get to see how buildings are constructed from the ground up to the roof. It is a demanding job but I couldn’t see myself doing anything else, as the satisfaction you get when a project is handed over on time, on budget and with no accidents is a good feeling. I would recommend any young person as it gives you a satisfying feeling at the end of each day.

Vicky Squibb

I am the solicitor who has overall responsibility for the legal advice given or procured on property-related (and other commercial) matters for the Property and Living business units.

I drive and lead commercial property deals to conclusion within challenging time-frames in order to ensure the delivery of the necessary commercial outputs, whilst taking a balanced view as to risk. I appreciate that sounds a bit contrived, and possibly a bit dull (I am a lawyer, after all). In reality I help the team that I work with (who I very much like and respect) to solve problems which enables them to buy, develop and sell property in order to make profit for the Kier Group. I enjoy it because the team is great, the buildings we create are tangible and of a high quality, and I can see the part I play in our success.

Laura Negus

In my role as Personal Assistant, I assist Rob Gray, a Technical Services Director within Kier, with every day responsibilities including diary and calendar management as well as supporting his senior management team to support and deliver the best possible service to our clients and various jobs within the business. As well as a P.A. I am a Social Impact Manager, where as part of the Scape Framework, I ensure the delivery of social impact across all projects led by our Kier Workplace Services South team. This includes liaising with various public bodies and organisations to capture and evidence all activities, assist in implementing the apprenticeship programme, arrange work experience with locals schools across the UK, conduct Health and Safety talks in Schools and record all the professional development across the team.

I really enjoy the two roles I carry out as my duties and responsibilities are constantly changing and adapting creating a challenging environment which is something I thrive on and I find allows me to do the best I can. Working with a great team is a welcomed bonus as I enjoy working with them every day without a dull moment insight.

Holly Pierson

I’m heavily involved in maintaining and improving Suffolk’s Highways, designing and redesigning bus stops, working with other colleagues on major schemes and working on my own projects around the country.

My favourite parts of the job are the new opportunities I get to experience, particularly designing on AutoCAD and going on site visits where I can learn from others. The thought that I’m making a difference to Suffolk’s economy gives me great pride. Knowing that the public will be benefiting from something that I have designed for years to come gives me great job satisfaction.

Steve Musson

Kier has also given me other opportunities in operations, design and managing packages from pre-construction through to handover.

With the exposure and opportunities I’ve been lucky enough to have with Kier, I have gained the skills needed to manage the handover of a £80 million project and project manage a fit out in London. A typical working day for me consists of liaising with the pre-construction team and subcontractors to ensure everyone has the materials and information needed to build the project to schedule. My favourite is handing over the project to the client, ensuring they are happy with the work.

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.

Nicole Jermy

My team within Virgin Media help to manage the costs and expenses of maintaining our vast and growing network and ensuring that the business has access to all the IT systems necessary. Our team, like many, is vital in ensuring that the company continues to grow from strength to strength. My job varies on a daily basis but involves things from checking invoices that we have received and ensuring they match up with a tracker through to reading fibre contracts for information. One of the reasons that I love my role is because it’s so varied every day with new challenges and tasks. I also enjoy learning about new parts of the business, helping to grow my understanding of what is required to maintain a large corporation.

I see finance as being the backbone of every firm, and I love being a part of such a vital part of an organisation. Without a good and strong finance team most companies would struggle to maintain their business. With finance you can really see the difference that you are making within a company and I really enjoy that aspect of it.

The VM grad scheme is one of the best in the industry. They really care a lot about their graduates and this is one of the reasons that drew me to them. Also the chances that we get to experience three different very varied job roles with the year rotations was very appealing with each job role widening your knowledge and helping you develop further.

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.

Zoe Morgan

I assist in placing orders and managing work packages at SA1. I’m a site based assistant Quantity Surveyor, and I have very good hands on practice as I’m able to work closely with design and operational staff.

I love my job because no day is the same! I work with intelligent people who I am constantly learning from.

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.

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.

Brandon Wood

I’m 18 years old and have been working with Kier for six months. I’m currently working on the Bitterne Park School project in Southampton as a site team apprentice. My role on this project is assisting the site management team in delivering the build.

My favourite part of the job is getting to meet all the different people involved in a project and seeing how they play a part in the construction work, as well as the planning that goes with it. I really enjoy being part of the construction team, learning from my colleagues and getting to experience different stages of the project.

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.

Lewis Scott

I joined Kier in August 2014 and I love it. I like that each day is differently and I’m constantly learning new things. I enjoy interacting with the different workers on site too – I look forward to coming into work every day.

A typical day for me on site involves managing our supply chain and materials, as well as ensuring health and safety standards are always being maintained.  I also spend time shadowing the site managers and giving inductions to visitors. I’m currently studying for my NVQ Level 3 in construction alongside my work on site. In the future I would like to become a site manager and maybe explore construction overseas.