Redrow takes on around 300 apprentices, graduates or other trainees nationally every year and its Lancashire division demonstrates the careers potential these schemes offer.
Among its recent promotions, three of the Chorley-based office’s team started out on the award-winning housebuilder’s graduate training scheme, and another has changed careers altogether.
Laura Hamilton is 26-years-old and from Preston. With a Masters in architecture, she worked in two architectural practices before joining Redrow’s 18-month rotational graduate scheme, where she spent time in several departments before choosing the field in which to specialise.
She is now an assistant designer within the technical department and says: “There are so many different career options at Redrow and so much more to learn. I’m glad to finally be part of the team and am able to get more involved in specific projects. I’m just starting to see some of the plans I’ve worked on become reality as well, which is great to see. There is such a diverse range of people working here and we all play different roles.”
Two new assistant site managers are Ian O’Neill and Lauren Watts, both from the construction graduate training programme. Liverpudlian Ian is 25-years-old and graduated with a degree in building surveying.
“I’m very happy and proud that all my hard work has paid off and that I can now look forward to progressing further within Redrow,” he says. “Each day is completely different. One day I could be problem solving with the tradesmen, the next I could be looking at drawings and specifications. It makes the job challenging but interesting at the same time. Redrow offers a great training programme for graduates. There is a clear path for progression and a chance to work alongside other departments.”
With a BTEC in travel and tourism and no previous industry experience, 29-year-old Heather Kirkman joined Redrow less than two years ago as a customer care coordinator before moving to the commercial department as a commercial administrator and assistant buyer. She now takes the position of trainee quantity surveyor (QS) and will be starting a construction HNC this month.
She says: “My goal is to work towards becoming a QS in the next five years. Working as a buyer and administrator has given me a good insight in to the QS role, and I can’t wait to start college [this month]. I had no industry experience, but Redrow has taken me on and given me the relevant training I need to do my job well. This has led to me progressing to a role which I feel will be a career for life. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my journey with Redrow so far, and I’m excited about my future.”
Completing the latest round of promotions in this Redrow region are: Katherine Ball, who has taken on the role of senior land manager; Edward Ramsden moving from land negotiator to land manager; and Peter Wilkinson, now chief quantity surveyor.
One-third of Redrow’s promotions nationally this year joined the company via the training route and 15% of its total workforce currently has trainee status. It is also committed to tackling construction’s reputation as a male-dominated industry, with women being over half those recently promoted in the Lancashire division.
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