70 years on has anything changed?

NOW

26-year-old Kevin Hendley is a man with a mission. Having recently become a full chartered member of the CIOB he’s now working as design co-ordinator on a £21m project and also actively encouraging youngsters to join the industry. But it hasn’t been easy getting where he is today.

‘From a very early age I knew I wanted to work in construction and that excitement helped me persevere to get into the industry. But it was no clear and easy path,’ he admits.

At school Hendley received virtually no careers advice regarding potential roles in construction, or the qualifications required, with teachers’ efforts instead focused on encouraging students to join the IT industry, sales and marketing. ‘Pupils were encouraged to sit A-levels then a degree. I remember asking my careers adviser about construction apprenticeships and she looked at me blankly,’ he says.

Realising he would have to rely on his own initiative, Hendley uncovered a local technical college offering a GNVQ in Construction and the Built Environment. He signed up, and although attendance was low with only about 10 other students – two of whom dropped out during the course – he made it through.

‘I was then faced with a dilemma: should I join the industry and work, go to university, or join another higher education course?’ Again virtually no careers advice was available. ‘I had no idea what specific construction roles entailed,’ adds Hendley.

Discovering his GNVQ was insufficient to progress to degree level, he decided to begin an HNC day-release course in building studies, which would allow him to further his education, as well as receive ‘on the job’ experience.

‘Finding a company that would employ a student on day release proved very difficult. I sent out numerous speculative application letters to contractors and consultants, big and small, and in most cases got no reply,’ he says. ‘Eventually an architectural practice on the south coast agreed to employ me as a junior architectural technician as well as sponsor my HNC studies.’

Youngsters are our future construction stars, so make an effort.

Kevin Hendley

The two-year stint at the practice gave Hendley the insight into the industry he craved, plus the knowledge he needed to make informed career choices – ‘something I should have had back at school’.

Progressing quickly from architectural technician to senior technician responsible for a team of junior technicians, his career was at last making headway. ‘Having joined the CIOB as a student member at college, I progressed to associate level. Later, with eight years’ work experience behind me, I decided to work towards a full MCIOB membership, which I achieved in February this year.’

Realising his real passion really lay at the front line of construction, in January Hendley left the architectural practice for a major contractor, where he’s now working as design coordinator. It’s been a difficult journey and he is keen to help ensure that other school or college leavers do not experience the same confusion and lack of guidance that he did.

‘At my current job I am able to pass on my enthusiasm to youngsters through community and career events and share my passion for construction wherever I have the opportunity.’ he says. ‘Unfortunately there’s a feeling among many project managers and QSs that they don’t have enough time to help organise such events or don’t have sufficient funds. What these people do not realise is that by only concentrating on their own small element of work, they are missing the wider picture.

‘Essentially they are causing the very skills crisis they complain about by not contributing the time and money required to encourage and train the youngsters of today. They are our future construction stars, so make an effort.’

THEN

Every grandchild should be familiar with the scene. Sat around the dinner table on a Sunday afternoon an irate granddad launches into a nostalgic monologue about ‘the good old days’, when ‘people were friendlier’, ‘things worked properly’ and no one had even heard of ‘hoodies or slimming drugs’.

If that is the stereotype, then the retired Lieutenant Colonel Donald Densham-Booth FCIOB is its antithesis. Having spent the majority of his life working overseas in various locations, the 90-year-old has the open mindedness and youthful enthusiasm of a man half his age. He is one of the CIOB’s oldest members.

I believe that those in supervisory roles – site and project managers – should be builders by trade.

Lt Col Donald Densham-Booth FCIOB

Lt Col Densham-Booth’s first job, in 1935, was a junior builder’s clerk position at a medium-sized firm of builders where he prepared ledgers and took shorthand. ‘I had embarked upon what was known as the “executive route” into construction,’ he recalls.

There were essentially two paths available for young people entering the industry at the time and both were from the bottom up. The trade, or ‘improver’, route involved going cap in hand to a firm to get work as a ‘barrow boy’ – working for around 4p an hour pushing a cart or tools around on site or making tea.

Youngsters entering by this route, who were mostly working class, were expected to pick up what trade knowledge they could on the job, then progress through the ranks, with the ultimate goal of becoming the general foreman responsible for all trades on site. ‘You could spot him by his black bowler hat – tradesmen wore flat caps – and he could expect to earn six pounds a week,’ says Lt Col Densham-Booth with a laugh.

Apprenticeships were also on offer at the time, but they did not come cheap. Lt Col Densham-Booth recalls the father of a wannabe carpenter’s apprentice having to negotiate with a builder to get a placement, eventually handing over £500 for the privilege of his son working under a skilled foreman.

The so-called ‘executive route’ involved educated boys of 14 (at that time it was only boys, of course) beginning work at the building firm’s office in administrative roles such as office workers or junior clerks. ‘We were acting as surveyors in a way, overseeing work on site. The company director took us on under the condition that we would also study the profession,’ says Lt Col Densham-Booth. ‘At 16 I was studying for a National Certificate in Building, then after four years with the firm I studied four nights a week at the Polytechnic to gain a Licentiate Diploma (LIOB).’ All his educational fees, travel expenses, books and equipment were paid for by the firm. Unfortunately for the working classes the rigid class structure made it virtually impossible for them to study for professional qualifications.

In May 1939, aged 20, Lt Col Densham-Booth was awarded his LIOB Diploma, which allowed him to leave the office and become a site supervisor. But the declaration of war and his subsequent enlistment cut short his early career and triggered a long period of military involvement, much of it working overseas in the Royal Engineers. His involvement with the CIOB continued, however, and he gained his FCIOB while in the services.

So what can the present generation learn from his experiences? ‘On the trade side we have plenty of Polish, who are real grafters, but we need to encourage home-grown skills,’ he says. ‘Having spent so long in the services I know the benefits of discipline and I believe training in the trades should be made compulsory for the unemployed youth. From what I can see many are lazy and ill disciplined and would greatly benefit from being taught a trade and earning money from it.

‘I also believe that those in supervisory roles – site and project managers – should be builders by trade. As the boss at my first job used to say: “Every man is born a builder and has an inbred willingness to build.” Builders should be reinstated as the focal point during a project, taking ultimate control, supported by architects and engineers.’