The class of 2014: Contractors and housebuilders

Fergus Ellis

Age: 24
Qualification/training: Arts degree (music)
Job: Development assistant in the land and development department
At: Barratt London
From: Harrogate, Yorkshire

Why did you want to join the construction industry?
I suppose I’ve always had a passion for property. It’s the ability to influence an environment and leave a lasting legacy on the places we live in.

What did you think about the image of the construction when you decided to join?
The image can be that it’s old school and a bit archaic - but the reality is much better. Compared with schools or university where there’s state of the art technology, the industry is a little behind but that’s now changing fast and we’re working out ways to use technology to help the way we do things.

How forward thinking do you perceive construction to be?
The perception is almost that they’re 20 years behind everything, but my experience so far is that things are changing rapidly.

Are you worried the culture of the industry will present challenges?
The boom and bust nature of the industry, brings concerns around job security, but in terms of diversity, I’ve been surprised at how many nationalities, experiences, and cultural backgrounds there are at Barratt London.

First year ambitions?
I just want to get a really good grasp of the industry and how it works.

Longer term ambitions?
I want to manage my own developments, to work with architects to come up with schemes that I can oversee, and that I can say I was behind.

Euan Beaddie

Age: 20
Qualification/training: Construction level three/HNC
Job: Management trainee
At: Willmott Dixon
From: Baldock, Hertfordshire

Why did you want to join the construction industry?
I wanted to join construction as it is an industry that is always evolving.

What did you think about the image of the construction when you decided to join?
When I joined the industry the image was very promising as I joined during the tail end of the recession, so the outlook was very good for new long-term projects.

How forward thinking do you perceive construction to be?
Construction is a very forward thinking industry as it has to always improve on ratings and is always looking for new innovative designs.

First year ambitions?
To pass my college course with the highest level I can achieve and to gain as much experience of all aspects of my job.

Longer term ambitions?
My ambitions are to finish my trainee programme and work my way up to build manager and then try to further progress to operations manager.

Joe Eke

Age: 20
Qualification/training: Starting my third year of a BSc Hons in Quantity Surveying (Commercial Management) Part-time
Job: Trainee Quantity Surveyor
At: Balfour Beatty, London office
From: Guildford

What did you think about the image of the construction when you decided to join?
When I joined it was just after the Olympics had finished, so there was a buzz about the buildings used and also with the Shard nearing completion, London was beginning to look very modern.

How forward thinking do you perceive construction to be?
I think construction is forward thinking in terms of innovation, as there are always new methods/materials being developed. London will become a greener city with new innovative ways to harness renewable energy resources and introduce them into the construction of buildings.

Are you worried the culture of the industry will present challenges?
I don’t believe so, I see the construction industry as a fair and equal industry.

Sophie Miller

Age: 21
Qualification/training: Degree in architecture
Job: Graduate
At: Redrow, Northampton office
From: Kettering, Northamptonshire, UK

Why did you want to join the construction industry?
While studying architecture at university I had always been keen to learn more about the industry from a business-orientated point of view.

What did you think about the image of the construction when you decided to join?
I originally viewed the industry as very male dominated but that is slowly beginning to change. Following the most recent recession, it is now an industry coming out of a very fragile state and fast becoming dominant again.

Are you worried the culture of the industry will present challenges?
I believe the industry, for the time being, is stable. However, I am aware that fluctuations in the housing and construction market are influenced by the economy, but the same goes for any industry so there will always be that thought in the back of my mind no matter what job I am in.