Employee stories

Lorenzo Mwenewanda

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 16:01:24 +0000

Feeling like a part of something bigger – Lorenzo Mwenewanda’s start to life at Kier.

Over the years, I’ve worked on several stories with our emerging talent at Kier. I always love it and this blog’s guest is no exception.

I would like to introduce you to Lorenzo Mwenewanda, commercial trainee within Kier Natural Resources, Nuclear & Networks. Lorenzo and I originally met in 2024 on a day where he was part of a group filming a podcast. Episode with Youth Group.

We met again a few months later at our 2024 apprentice induction event, and had the chance to have a more in-depth conversation about what his start to life with us at Kier has been like.

“I feel like I’m part of something bigger. I know my role in the team and the team’s role in the wider business – it’s really motivating to feel like that,” Lorenzo told me.

Lorenzo has been at Kier now since September 2024, as a commercial trainee within our Natural Resources, Nuclear & Networks business stream. He joined on a degree apprenticeship in quantity surveying; taking an opportunity to gain a degree without taking on a single penny in student debt!

“It feels like a blessing to know that I can get a degree and not have to take on the debt that you’d usually get with going to uni, I love it!” Lorenzo said.

I asked Lorenzo how he’s found things so far, and what his start to life at Kier has been like. “I really do enjoy it. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot of learning to do, a lot to take in but I love that,” he said.

As someone who enjoys being ‘on the go’ and gets a lot of enjoyment out of working, Lorenzo is really embracing all the learnings he’s been able to take in his role so far.

“I actually had my first university week recently too. We were at Sheffield Hallam University, and at the start of the week, the emerging talent team hosted an evening where the degree apprentices could get together and network a bit more. It was nice to have that,” Lorenzo told me.

He added that it was a great chance to be amongst the group of our other degree apprentice cohort, especially ahead of a busy first week at university. “There was a lot to take in again but I’m excited to start combining my role and my university work, really seeing how it all comes together,” he added.

In terms of a typical day for Lorenzo, he found it tricky to really describe due to the variety he gets involved in. However, he told me about many of the opportunities he’s had to host meetings with his team as well as clients and subcontractors.

“There’s a lot of numbers in my job too, I work a lot with them but it’s something that stands out as one of my favourite parts. I’m really enjoying working in quantity surveying,” Lorenzo said.

We then dived a little further back into the days before Lorenzo joined Kier. Speaking about his interests at school, and whether he ever saw himself coming into the construction industry.

“I left school knowing I wanted to get into construction. I’d done quite a bit of research and knew what types of opportunities were out there. I was always keen on the idea of working at a big company like Kier as well, and feeling like I’m really contributing to something bigger,” he told me.

Lorenzo has also had many opportunities to network, meet others on his course and even have some time in front of the camera for our social media channels!

“We had the induction at the end of 2024, and it was so fun. I enjoyed meeting the other apprentices coming into Kier. We had some good games and activities as well which definitely helped us all network a bit more, it was good fun,” he added.

Lorenzo continued by adding that he feels settled at Kier, and truly feels able to bring his whole self to work. “I like to express myself and here, I can be me. That means a lot, to know I can come to work, be myself and not need to worry about changing for anyone,” he told me.

Overall, Lorenzo has had a great start to life at Kier. With opportunities to develop and network with others, he’s learning every single day, showing just how great a degree apprenticeship has been for him.

If you’re interested in taking a similar route in your career to Lorenzo, take a look at our apprenticeship vacancies here.

Chloe Bullock

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Balancing motherhood and a degree apprenticeship - Chloe Bullock's story

Let us introduce you to Chloe Bullock, assistant quantity surveyor at Kier, who is working on our South West Water Framework whilst studying for her degree in construction quantity surveying through a degree apprenticeship at Kier.

“First and foremost, I am mum to two little boys, and we live in Cornwall. I like going for walks down the beach or in the forest, and if the weather is right, I enjoy a bit of paddleboarding and bodyboarding – all the stuff you do when you live near the beach!” Chloe laughs.

Day to day at Kier, Chloe works within the reactive, planned maintenance and new connection contracts. She reviews work carried out by Kier teams, organises and pays subcontractors who repair and maintain the freshwater network.

“We fix all sorts; it could be anything from a water main burst through to repairing someone’s stop tap, or even building damns and translocating a large number of fish,” Chloe explains.

Chloe’s journey into the construction industry

Chloe started her career in temporary roles, supporting a pharmaceutical company with quality assurance administration duties as she worked her way up to permanent roles. Eventually, she specialised in in-house recruitment before she moved to clinical commissioning.

“In all my roles, I’ve been able to demonstrate transferable skills, but the jump from clinical commissioning to quantity surveying seems most surprising,” Chloe explains.

“Realistically, they’re completely transferable; it’s all contractual, financial and highly legislated” she adds.

In 2019, Chloe took a break from the working world to go on maternity leave with her second son. When she was ready to return, Chloe joined Kier as a commercial assistant on a temporary contract.

As the project grew more demanding, Kier was able to offer her a permanent role.

“Because this was a complete career change for me, I really wanted to gain a qualification to learn more about construction because I was really interested in properly pursuing it as a career,” Chloe shares.

As a result, Chloe applied to a degree apprenticeship at Sheffield Hallam University as a mature student, allowing her to use her experience instead of school grades to apply.

Degree apprenticeships at Kier

Kier completely pays for Chloe’s degree, and she also earns a salary for the work she does at Kier.

To begin with, Chloe was enrolled in the course at Sheffield Hallam University. This involved being released from work to spend block weeks every three months in Sheffield and attend lectures and seminars in person, with all accommodation and expenses covered by Kier.

“My first 2 years, I did the commuting all the way up to Sheffield from Cornwall, but given the fact I have two young children, I was really struggling to make it work for my family,” Chloe explained.

After explaining this to her line manager, a recent graduate from the same course, Chloe has put the course on hold for a year and will resume with an online training provider in March 2026.

“I can hands down say Kier is the best company I’ve ever worked for and, you know, I’m in my mid-30s, I’ve worked for some huge brands before, but Kier has just been so accommodating for me,” Chloe beams.

“I didn’t really apply myself at school, and I’m really determined to show myself that I can actually do it,” she admits.

“Plus, it’s basically like a free course that ultimately is going to help you earn more money as you progress through your career – it feels like a no-brainer to me,” she adds.

Balancing kids and a degree apprenticeship

As the mother of two young boys, Chloe already has her hands full, and studying towards a degree apprenticeship became another plate to spin.

“As far as kids are concerned, that balance is a little bit hard I’m not going to lie,” Chloe shares.

“Kier, of course, gives you time to do your assignments or any other work related to your degree whilst you’re at work, but there’s still an element of working you have to do at home”, she explains further.

As an apprentice, you are entitled to at least 20% of your working hours to be dedicated only to your apprenticeship. But that doesn’t mean there’s not still things to do in your own time too.

“Friends always ask me how on earth I’m managing it with two kids, but it’s just about carving out the time for it – instead of watching TV every night after they’ve gone to bed, I get some of my uni work done a couple nights a week,” Chloe explains.

“Despite the challenges, it’s still genuinely one of the best things I’ve ever done; it’s helped me understand my role, led to promotions, and given me a massive sense of achievement,” she beams.

It’s never too late to start your further education journey, and an apprenticeship is a fantastic way to jump into something new. Take a look at our apprenticeship vacancies today.

Rhianna Ord

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 11:00:00 +0000

From T Level work experience to a trainee site manager - Rhianna's journey into construction

Say hello to Rhianna Ord, trainee site manager working on a rebuild of a primary and secondary school in Durham, to provide outstanding experiences for the students that will attend.

Rhianna’s journey into Kier is probably one of my favourites, as the project she works on, is a rebuild of the secondary school she attended as a student!

Even back at school, Rhianna had clear intentions for her career, inspired by her granddad, dad, and uncle who all work within the construction industry. “I’ve been around construction my whole life and actually my uncle is a subcontractor on this project! So, I’ve always known I wanted to be in the industry which is why I chose construction as one of my GCSE subjects and from there I went on to college to complete a T Level in construction,” Rhianna explains.

A T Level is a qualification that has a technical aspect to it. It’s for students that have completed GCSEs and they combine formal learning with practical experience. As part of her qualification, Rhianna had to find a work experience placement within construction, and it was this that led her to Kier.

“I originally started my placement at another local construction company, but I didn’t feel like I was getting as much out of it as I could be,” says Rhianna. It was then that Rhianna noticed that her old secondary school was being rebuilt by Kier. So, she emailed her old headteacher asking them to send on her CV to the project manager at Kier.

“I was so excited when I heard back that they were happy to have me because Kier is such a big company, it was exactly the kind of experience I wanted!” Rhianna beams.

From then on, Rhianna completed her remaining work experience at Kier, learning all about what happens on site and the different career options available to her.

“I loved it so much that I continued doing my work experience even after I’d completed my hours! Everyone on site was so welcoming and excited to show me what they get up to in their role I absolutely loved it,” Rhianna adds.

In 2024, Rhianna completed her T Level in construction and was eager to learn more about the career opportunities out there.

“I was really interested in a degree apprenticeship because I’d enjoyed my work experience so much, I didn’t want to have to go back into full time learning, I’d rather learn on the job,” Rhianna explains.

Rhianna was struggling to find any degree apprenticeship opportunities locally, so chanced her arm and asked her current line manager at Kier if they would consider creating a position at Kier on their project. Clearly impressed by the talent Rhianna brought to the project, her line manager organised for a new apprenticeship opportunity to become available for Rhianna to apply and interview for, securing her a permanent role at Kier.

“My whole family was proud of me which was so nice, and I was really proud of myself too because it was a big compliment for them to actually create a vacancy because of my time with them on work experience,” Rhianna beams. “My dad was especially proud, although he did say he hopes he doesn’t end up on one of my sites as I’ll be the one to boss him around!” she laughs.

As a trainee site manager, Rhianna is working towards earning herself a degree in construction management at Sheffield Hallam University through a degree apprenticeship at Kier. Day to day, Rhianna works full time as one of two trainee site managers on the project, “it’s a bit hectic at the moment as we’re preparing to hand over the finished project to the client, but generally my role is mainly about the control and quality of the work that’s being done on site and ensuring it’s up to the client’s standards,” says Rhianna.

“Because I’m a trainee I’m basically just learning all the time, constantly asking everyone ‘what are you doing’ and ‘why are you doing that’ just trying to be a sponge and take everything in!” she adds.

“I’m so grateful for the opportunities I’ve had so far and really excited to see how my career goes,” Rhianna adds.

“Talking to any other students not sure what to do next, I’d say figure out what you enjoy, plan out your options and what you need to do to get there and speak to people! Get work experience and just absorb all the information you possibly can,” she advises.

Interested in learning more about the construction industry and the opportunities available? Come along to one of our sites during Open Doors week and learn more about what a career in construction could look like for you.

Evie Marsden

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Giving up time to inspire the next generation. How Evie Marsden is using her volunteering days to support young girls and women.

In her day job, Evie Marsden is a quantity surveyor with us at Kier. She’s been here since 2019, having joined as a graduate. She’s currently working on a £5m refurbishment project of a children’s secure unit, supporting the team from a commercial and financial perspective.

Outside of her role though, she works with Girlguiding as a unit leader for the Guides group in her area. Girlguiding is a charity organisation that gives girls and women the opportunity to come together to learn new skills, to volunteer in their local communities and go on trips as a group.

Evie recently used the volunteering policy we have at Kier, to support with her efforts at Girlguiding.

At Kier, our employees are entitled to two additional full days of paid leave every year to support charities and local communities of their choice.

Girlguiding is a charity organisation for girls aged from four to 18, split into different age groups. Evie works with the Guides age group, which includes girls from the age of 10, through to the age of 14.

“The motto for Girlguiding is ‘girls can do anything’, and to me that also means that the girls are to feel like they can be prepared to do or achieve anything they want to. I feel like I have the chance to empower these groups of girls, and it’s something I’m really passionate about,” Evie said.

As someone working in a STEM (science, technology, engineering & maths) focused role, Evie was very keen to tell me more about how passionate she is about inspiring the next generation into our industry. “A lot of the leaders in the group are teachers. So funnily, me not coming from that background, I get a lot of questions about my job as a quantity surveyor, and I enjoy explaining what I do,” she told me.

Evie then continued to tell me about some of the activities she’s been up to within the group, including visiting Paris!

“We do a lot of interactive stuff, your typical arts & crafts activities, but we’ve also done careers focused stuff, in an engaging way. For example, our younger age groups have been taken around their local town, looking at buildings and working out what materials they’ve been made using, like wood, or bricks for example,” Evie said.

It was fantastic to hear the variety of work Evie does in her role as unit lead, and even more impressive how she has been able to bring her experience in the construction industry to life for the next generation.

We then started to speak about Evie’s exciting trip to Paris. Along with some other Guide leaders, they took nearly 40 children to the French capital, visiting the Eiffel Tower, and of course, Disneyland – because when in Paris, you just have to!

“It was a big thing for the group, especially given there were girls the age of 12 or 13 that have never been away without their parents, it was a mega thing for them,” Evie added.

I then asked Evie about using her volunteering days for that very trip, something she was excited to talk about.

“Having used the volunteering leave policy before, I already knew how simple the process was. I had a conversation with my manager, letting them know about the trip and my plans to use the policy, and that was pretty much it! As easy as that,” Evie told me.

Evie added how she feels it’s a real bonus to have a benefit like this. She hopes that, given her own experience was very straightforward, that it’ll encourage others to do the same. “I think it’s fantastic. Having something like this as a benefit definitely makes me feel proud to work at Kier,” she added.

“Guides is something I loved when I was younger and it's great to show the girls that you can carry on with your hobbies and fit them around your day job," Evie added.

We’ve seen employees use their volunteering days for a variety of different activities. They might be volunteering at local food banks, competing in dragon boat races, or supporting other charities close to their hearts.

Evie is continuing her work on inspiring these young girls. Answering their questions about her own career, and encouraging them to look at opportunities within the world of STEM, even through our emerging talent routes, like apprenticeships or graduate schemes.

Next year, she intends on using her two volunteering days again for a Guides camp, in preparation for an even bigger one that’s coming in 2026, which is really exciting for Evie and the group.

If you’re passionate about volunteering, whether like Evie you work with Girlguiding, or you volunteer with a local charity regularly, and you want to work with an employer that supports this, why not take a look at our vacancies?

Christabel Sogbe

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Using your platform to inspire others. Hear how Christabel Sogbe, trainee site manager is keen to encourage women into construction.

In November 2024, I met Christabel at our apprentice induction event. We spoke briefly, and it was clear to me straight away that she had a passion to inspire young people, particularly more women, into the construction industry.

We recently caught up again, to have a more in-depth chat about Christabel’s role as a trainee site manager and her mission to help the construction industry become more inclusive.

Joining the construction industry

“I always knew I wanted to work in the construction industry. Seeing how businesses like Kier are able to make a difference to the skylines of major cities was something I really wanted to be involved in,” Christabel started telling me.

“My dad has been in construction for a long time, back in Ghana, and always told me, I’d do well in this industry. I’ve got many other family members who also work in construction and were part of what inspired me to follow suit. When I was young, we used to watch TV programmes about building, like Homes Under the Hammer. I think the idea of just taking a project from start to finish always fascinated me,” she added.

Before we got on to talking about what a typical day looks for Christabel, I was keen to find out more about how she came to join Kier.

“I’d heard good things about Kier anyway through friends and family, I liked what I saw on their Instagram and LinkedIn pages as well and decided to apply,” she said.

Apprenticeship vs university

As a degree apprentice, Christabel will earn her degree in construction management from Sheffield Hallam University whilst she works full time as a trainee site manager.

“Having my university fees covered by Kier instead of a student loan is a huge bonus of doing an apprenticeship. Plus, I get to earn a salary whilst I study towards my degree too which is amazing!” Christabel explains.

“At the end of the day, I will graduate with the same degree as someone who went to university full time, but without any of the debt!” she adds.

“I was really happy to join Kier, it’s been great so far and I’ve had lots of support in my first few months. Having the apprentice induction event was great too. It was a good opportunity to meet people coming into the business like me, and others who have been here a while,” she added.

Throughout the year, Christabel will attend university in person during dedicated block weeks with all travel and accommodation paid for by the business. Her course will take about five years to complete, where she’ll graduate with a degree in construction management.

Working as a trainee site manager

A normal day for Christabel as a trainee site manager is everchanging. She works alongside people who have been at Kier, and within the construction industry for a long time, which she’s found really valuable.

“We’ll do a site walk each day, doing regular markups of work to track progress, daily checks, and making sure that the project is progressing. I spend a lot of time talking with our subcontractors and the wider teams on the project, which I enjoy a lot. It sounds like a cliché to say but no two days are ever the same for me,” Christabel said.

Inspiring women into construction, Christabel absolutely sees herself as a change-maker. “The construction industry is a historically male-dominated industry, and I want to be part of the change. I want to encourage young people, young girls and women in general to be a part of what we’re doing, and show them that anyone can succeed here,” she told me.

“I was definitely surprised, in a good way, when I came to Kier though. I was really happy to see loads of other girls at the induction event, other girls following their hearts and coming into the industry,” she added.

As part of her work to drive change in the industry, Christabel has volunteered herself to be part of some of our social media content already. A real natural in front of the camera!

However, one of her main projects right now is an Instagram account called @theconstructgirlies that she runs, with a goal to inspire more women into the construction industry.

They share their experiences and promote what it’s like to work in construction.

Their followers are constantly growing, with exciting content shared including FAQs, career tips and day in the life videos.

“Working in construction, I do think we have a platform to make a difference. Our Instagram account is one of the ways we can do that,” she said. “So many people use social media now, and I think we can use it as a power of good,” she added.

Using her platform to inspire others is exactly what Christabel plans on doing. With key events like National Careers Week, National Apprenticeship Week and Open Doors Week coming up in 2025, it’s a great time to be able to learn more about the work we do at Kier, and what a career might look like for you, with us.

Find out more about our apprenticeships and sign up to job alerts to be the first to hear about new vacancies.

Kola Alabede

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 11:37:33 +0000

“I can’t remember the last time I felt like this at work. It’s a wonderful feeling.” – Kola Alabede on his return to Kier

Kola Alabede is a design lead working in the London region of our construction business at Kier. He’s currently in his second role with us, since leaving in 2015 and returning in 2024.

As someone who has a vast amount of experience in the construction industry, Kola was keen to share his story, with the hope of inspiring others.

“I had a long career at Kier the first time around,” Kola started telling me. “I spent just short of 16 years here, before I left to explore more of the industry,” he added.

“It most definitely wasn’t a decision I took lightly I have to add. I’d had a great career at Kier and it wasn’t easy to leave. I often asked myself whether I’d made the right decision,” Kola told me.

Kola spent time in two other business after he left Kier, before the opportunity to return came up in 2024.

“I was excited at the prospect of returning to be honest. I’d done what I wanted to do in terms of exploring a little bit further around the industry. I was always seeing positive stuff from Kier on their social media and I never turned my back on the idea of returning,” he said.

In November 2024, Kola officially joined us for the second time in his career, as a Design Lead in the London region of our construction business.

“It’s a great job. I’m still embedding myself in at the moment, but I’ve had loads of chances to get out on site,” he said.

Kola reinforced the importance of this aspect of his role, saying how it’s vital to see his, and his team’s work in practice.

On an average day, Kola will be working with the project team for a project, ensuring the design management function is delivering the business needs and, collaborating with the wider project team. But his passion to lead and support his team is what really makes him want to come to work each day.

He described his role as “a bridge that helps the team deliver” explaining that he is always keen to provide all the support he can, given his broad experience in the industry.

“At the end of the day, I’ve been in the position that many people in the team around me are in – wanting to learn and develop. I’ve been in jobs where senior managers haven’t given time to help develop and support the team, and I don’t want to repeat that,” Kola said.

“I’ve noticed a cultural shift in that sense, definitely,” he said. “I’ve noticed that so many more people in the business are focused on helping their teams develop and progress in their roles. People truly enjoy what they do, and it’s great to see that,” he added.

At Kier, the professional development of our people is important to us. We offer a range of support, from casual online learning courses to keep your knowledge up to date as well as more formal learning and development programmes.

Back to Kola though, and I was next interested to hear a bit more about the change he’s seen at Kier. Having been away for nearly 10 years, much has changed at not only Kier, but within our industry as a whole – a lot of which Kola has seen.

“I touched on it earlier, but I’d definitely say the cultural shift is the biggest change I’ve seen since returning to Kier. You can tell that a lot of work has been done on that. People seem to be able to confidently say that they enjoy working at Kier, and they like what they do,” he said.

I then asked Kola if he’d recommend that other people follow in his footsteps, and return to Kier, or join us in general. “I would absolutely recommend that people return, without a doubt,” he started saying.

“I’ve seen a huge change culturally, and from a technical side of things too. It’s an exciting industry to be a part of, and Kier feels like a great place to be,” he added.

Kola carried on, saying how he expected to see positive change and that he hasn’t been disappointed in what he’s seen. “I know that I’ve made a fantastic decision. I can’t remember the last time I felt this good about work, it’s a wonderful feeling,” he finished by saying.

Kola’s experience is one that will resonate with many people. Taking the chance on leaving a role you’re comfortable in to explore the industry a little but further, building your experience.

Hopefully hearing his story will encourage you to follow him, in either returning to Kier, or joining us for the first time!

Apply here.

Writing an effective CV

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 15:55:08 +0000

Our top tips for when you’re writing your CV

Your CV is often one of your biggest tools when applying for a job but we know getting it right can feel tricky.

At the very least, your CV should be easy to read, cover the key details about you and your experience and includes your contact details.

We’ve put together a useful blog, including all our top tips for how to write an effective CV, from formatting, to what skills to include, and everything in between!

We’d recommend you lay out your CV in the following format:

Name and contact details
Location you’re based or looking to work in
Summary about your experience and goals
Key skills
Work history
Education

Contact details: you should include your preferred contact details in your CV, whether that’s your email address, mobile number, or both! Feel free to leave a link to your LinkedIn profile if you’ve got one too.

Your location: there’s no need to include your full address, your town or postcode will do. If you’re open to relocating, make sure you mention this too.

Layout: make sure that spaces between each section are consistent throughout, with clear, bold headings showing what’s where. Keep an eye out for spelling errors or typos as well.

Saving your CV: we accept CVs in most document formats, but we’d recommend sending us a PDF version as this ensures we receive it in the format you intended.

Length: remember, it’s a CV and not an essay! You don’t need to have a five-page long CV, try to keep to two sides of A4 at a maximum, providing detail only where necessary to highlight the skills and experience we’re looking for. If you would like to add further context or detail, you can also include a cover letter within your application.

Tailoring your CV to the role you’re applying for

In your CV, it’s important that we can see your full working history as it allows us to see what skills you’ve learnt, and experience you have.

However, each role you apply for will likely value different key skills and experiences more than others. Recruiters are looking to see if you match the criteria specific to their role, so adjusting your CV to highlight your own skills that match those listed in the job advert helps our team make the decision.

Dating your career

It’s important that you mention in your CV how long you’ve spent in your past roles. This helps our hiring teams understand the level of experience you’ve had wherever you’ve worked, and it can often give us a chance to see any progression you might have had.

We recommend listing your past roles in chronological order, starting with your most recent role first, working backwards as you go.

Highlighting your skills and qualifications

Everyone has different skills that they can bring to a job, and it’s important to include these in your CV. It gives our hiring teams a chance to match your profile to the job.

We recommend listing them towards the beginning of your CV, especially when applying for roles that ask for certain skills or qualifications as a requirement.

Be sure to include any transferrable skills too. At Kier, we’re keen to match candidates to the best possible roles for them, so including any skills that could be transferrable between job functions is a great way to open more opportunities for you.

Aside from this, if the role you’re applying for requires specific qualifications or certifications, do not miss these out!

Check it again, and again, and again!

There’s no such thing as checking your CV “too much”.

Read through it two, three or four times, and for good measure, ask a friend or family member to have a look through as well. You’ll be reading it a lot yourself, and they might be able to spot any errors you’ve missed.

Personal hobbies, should you include them?

Whilst it isn’t vital you include any personal hobbies you have, they can sometimes be relevant for an application and can help.

Any hobbies relevant to the role, for example, if you’ve applied for an environmental role, and you’re a keen outdoor explorer, feel free to include!

All in all, your CV is a great chance to show us the experience you have, the skills you possess, and even your ambitions for your career. Spend quality time putting it together, tailor it to the role you’re applying for, and good luck!

Not applied yet, but feeling ready to? Apply here! If you have applied though, and you’re looking for some tips for how to approach your interview, you can read our other blog which includes our advice on this stage of the process, here!

Interview tips at Kier

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 15:55:12 +0000

Interview tips at Kier

Congratulations! Our hiring team has reviewed your application and would like to meet you for an interview, that’s great news! But what’s next?

Whether you’re meeting your interviewers in person or them virtually, we understand that interviews can be a little daunting, so, we’ve compiled our top tips to help you feel more prepared and at ease for your upcoming interview.

The process

All of our applications are reviewed by one of our in-house recruiters here at Kier and if we think you’ll be suitable for the role, we’ll invite you to an interview.

Our interviews take place either in-person or on Microsoft Teams – your recruiter will make you aware of which one is planned for the role you applied for.

Once you’ve agreed your time slot, you’ll receive an email with all the details including the date, time and location of the interview. It will also contain the calendar invite; add this to your calendar so you don’t forget!

If you have any questions before your interview, don’t be afraid to ask your recruiter! They’re there to help and can support you with anything you’re unsure with.

In-person interviews - getting there

If your interview is in person, make sure you familiarise yourself with how you’ll get there and who you need to ask for once you arrive.

We’d recommend you plan your journey a few days before your interview as it will give you enough time to plan and set aside enough time to get there and back. Double check traffic conditions on the day and make adjustments if necessary.

If you are late, don’t worry, we know things happen. Just make sure you have your recruiter’s phone number to hand so you can reach out and let us know.

Online interviews - test your tech

If your interview is online, make sure you’ve checked your technology won’t let you down.

With Microsoft Teams, you can click join the meeting which will take you to a waiting room that allows you to test the sound and camera on your device.

If you’re planning on joining on your mobile, you may need to download the Microsoft Teams app. You can click join meeting in your invite to test this.

Don’t forget about your Wi-Fi too! Try and find a location that offers you good internet connection.

What should you wear?

What you wear to your interview is completely up to you. We’d recommend wearing what you’d normally wear to work, whatever makes you feel comfortable and prepared.

If you’d like additional guidance, feel free to ask your recruiter! They’ll be able to give an insight into what the rest of the team wear to work.

Online interviews - location and background

It’s important to find a spot that’s comfortable, well-lit and free from distractions for your online interview. You should consider:

Background: look for a spot with a background you don’t mind sharing. , Alternatively, Microsoft Teams provides you with options to add a background to the call – here, you could blur your background or add a template.

Distractions: we want you to feel calm and prepared, so try to find somewhere you know you’ll be able to focus. Put your phone on silent and away is also a good idea.

Preparing your space: need notes? Make sure to have them to hand! You’ll also be speaking a lot during your interview, so having a glass of water nearby is useful.

Preparing answers

At Kier, we want to understand not only your capability to do the role, but also your approach to health and safety and diversity and inclusion.

We use a mixture of competency and strength-based questions throughout the interview which means we will be asking your approach to certain situations. If you want to understand more about strength-based interviews, you can speak to your recruiter.

Reverse interviewing

Don’t forget, an interview works two ways! It’s a great opportunity for us to learn more about you, but it’s also your opportunity to learn more about Kier.

You could ask the interviewers what they like about working at Kier, what development opportunities the business can offer you, or something more specific to the role to help you understand if Kier is also the right fit for you. .

Accessibility

If you require any reasonable adjustments to attend your interview, please let your recruiter know as soon as possible so we can ensure these are in place before the interview takes place.

Be yourself!

At Kier, we want to create a workplace where everyone feels that they can belong, contribute and thrive. This means, we want you, to be you!

Interviews can be daunting, and we will do our best to put you at ease. Our Ability Inclusion Network lead has put together a 10-minute mindfulness session you may find useful to follow to find some calm before you head into your interview.

Hopefully you’ve found this useful, and you’re now feeling prepared for your interview, though, if you’re still yet to apply for a role with us, you can do so here.

Good luck!

Project management at Kier

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 15:55:16 +0000

Have you ever thought about working in project management?

Project management means plenty of different things to different people. You could be project managing all sorts at Kier, from the implementation of a new system or process, to the management of a site based project, whether it’s constructing a new hospital, fitting a new bridge onto a road, or managing a water treatment works site, there are all sorts of project management opportunities here, all of which contribute to our goal which is to sustainably deliver infrastructure which is vital to the UK.

So, within this piece, we’ll take a deeper look into what it’s like to be a project manager at Kier, both on-site and off-site, telling you more about the general responsibilities of the role, how you can get into project management, and we’ll even hear from a few of our own project managers.

What is a project manager?

In general terms, a project manager is someone who oversees, coordinates, and manages all aspects of a project, from building a team, to the commercial and financial aspects, design aspects, and even managing client relationships.

The specifics of the role vary across our business streams – a project manager delivering a new system within our group functions won’t do the exact same things as a project manager overseeing the construction of a school, but the basic fundamentals of the role remain the same across all areas, beginning from putting a team together, to cutting the ribbon at the end of the process.

What does a project manager do?

When diving deeper into the finer details of working in project management, it becomes clear that it is a varied, demanding, and very people-focused role.

“You’ll find yourself working with many people throughout the process of a project, and that’s one of my favourite parts of the role. I enjoy working with a team of amazing people, and it makes the role feel very rewarding,” – Matt Davis, project director, Luton & Dunstable hospital.

A big part of your day will be spent with people working on the project, whether that’s on-site, or in the office – you could be discussing any health & safety issues, heading up a meeting with a commercial team of quantity surveyors, or you could be having important talks with clients of the project, all of which are very people-focused aspects of the role.

When it comes to liaising with clients & stakeholders, you could be discussing a range of important topics, but it will mostly be focusing on the actual progress of the project, whether the team are delivering what is meant to be delivered in the timeframe given – showcasing the importance of time management skills in project management, because the implications of a project being late or having a delayed finish can be heavy.

Typically, most key project decisions (financial, design, etc) will also go through the project manager, or project director – the role of whoever heads up the project is determined by the size of it. For example, a project in the value range of £30m, will be led by a project manager, or senior project manager, whereas a project of value upwards of £100m will be overseen by a project director, who may also have several other projects within their region to look after.

But it isn’t all site based though – did you know you could be a project manager within HR?

Working as a project manager in this space is a systems focused role, that affects everyone across the business in one way or another through systems such as our recruitment platforms, or our learn and perform platform. Again, the fundamentals of the role sit quite similarly with that of a project manager on a site, with involvement in things such as procurement processes and vendor selection, risk management, and a lot of meetings with various stakeholders across the business.

“It’s a really fulfilling role knowing that the projects we’re working on within the HR space are affecting everyone across the business in one way or another, and the role gives a quite rewarding feeling once we’ve delivered a project,” – Rebecca Jacob, senior HR project manager.

Rebecca continued to explain how once a HR project such as a system implementation is completed, a period of what is called “hyper care” begins, where the project team are on-hand with a heightened amount of support to users, in the event that any issues or concerns are found.

Who would a project manager work with?

In our projects at Kier, whether they be a major hospital build, a water treatment works site, or a new bridge being installed onto a motorway, there are various teams that feed into completing a job.

On a site based project, you’ll usually find commercial teams with quantity surveyors, design and engineering teams, communications teams, and the site teams (which consist of anyone from operatives, to health & safety teams). All of these teams will report into the project manager, who will work collaboratively with those teams, and support them with what’s going on and managing any concerns and issues.

“Day to day is different, but generally I’m responsible for making sure the project is on track, that people are safe, and keeping the clients up to date. It’s a lot of people work as well as project understanding which is why I think being able to communicate clearly and effectively is such a key skill for a project manager,” – Steven Cory, project manager.

It’s a busy job!

How can I become a project manager?

You can get into project management in a variety of ways. You may begin working as an agent within a nuclear based project, or an operative within our Transportation business, and work your way up into site management. You could enjoy similar progression within a commercial setting, and become a commercial manager, and before you know it, there are opportunities to get into broader project management, and beyond.

We also have our emerging talent routes into project management, via our degree apprenticeship scheme.

When we’re recruiting for a project manager, we look for people who are clear communicators, people who can put across a message to a team in an efficient way. It’s also good to see candidates who have had progression through their careers, showing that they’ve had experiences on a site, seeing a project through from various perspectives – being able to take their past experiences into a role with us. Aside from this, specific qualifications and experience will be required, but will be within the advert of the role you’re looking at.

“I’ve been here for a little while now, and Kier is great. The business has a good, positive feel to it, the culture is great, and there are so many opportunities for development in both a personal and a professional capacity,” – Mike Homer, senior project manager, Alderney water treatment works.

If you’re interested in working in project management at Kier, take a look at our vacancies.

Quantity surveying at Kier

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 15:55:19 +0000

So, you’re interested in a career in quantity surveying?

At Kier, quantity surveyors play a huge role in helping us deliver sustainable construction and infrastructure services across the UK.

You’ll find a quantity surveying role in nearly all areas of our business, whether it’s building a school with Kier Construction, supporting a rail project in Kier Transportation, or delivering water or nuclear power to millions of homes within Kier Natural Resources Nuclear & Networks.
Whilst the specific duties of the role will vary from role to role, the general responsibilities are similar, so if you’re interested in becoming a quantity surveyor at Kier, read on.

What is a quantity surveyor?

As a quantity surveyor, your main responsibility is to ensure a construction project runs on or under budget.

You’d work closely with other quantity surveyors at varying levels of experience. Within a team, you can expect to find a combination of assistant quantity surveyors, quantity surveyors, senior quantity surveyors and managing quantity surveyors, reporting into the commercial manager.

What does a quantity surveyor do?

Generally, your responsibilities are to manage the project budget, source sub-contractors and procure materials for the project you’re working on. You’d work closely with the site team to see how the project is progressing and discussion what more can be done to support. It’s a real mix of on-site and off-site work and no two days are the same.

The role can change as the project develops and you’d also support the bid team in winning new work, offering them quotes on the budget required for the project up for grabs.

“I love how much the work changes from year to year. You get new projects to get stuck into, new people to meet and new teams to work in and it’s brilliant! Seeing a building rise and the project finish makes quantity surveying such a satisfying role, I think it’s a really exciting part of the business to work in.” – Alice Anderson, senior quantity surveyor.

How do you become a quantity surveyor?

To become a quantity surveyor, you need to have a relevant degree which can be earned by attending university full time, or joining Kier as a degree apprentice where we’ll pay for your degree for you.

If you’ve just graduated university, you can join one of our graduate development programmes, supporting you with a variety of development opportunities to succeed as a professional quantity surveyor.

If you’re now an experienced quantity surveyor, we have a range of vacancies available across the UK for all levels of quantity surveyors, and we can support you in achieving professional chartership if required.

“In my experience, Kier has been supportive of my progression and my managers have been great in helping me achieve my accreditations,” – Tatenda Ward, assistant quantity surveyor

Can I do a quantity surveying apprenticeship?

Absolutely! Each year, we recruit for apprentice quantity surveyors across the UK to join us on our degree apprenticeship programme.

Your degree would be completely funded by Kier, and you would join as a permanent employee, meaning you can earn a salary whilst you earn your degree. As an apprentice, you’ll play a key role in the team, surrounded by experienced professionals with the opportunities to put your learnings into practice right away.

You’ll attend university in pre-determined block weeks – with all accommodation and food paid for – and your course will span across four to five years.

Visit our apprenticeships page to find out more about degree apprenticeships and the requirements to apply.

What progression is available for a quantity surveyor?

We’re all about promoting opportunities for our people to develop and progress in their careers and a career in quantity surveying is full of opportunity.

Typically, you would expect the career path for a qualified quantity surveyor to be as follows:

Assistant quantity surveyor

Quantity surveyor

Senior quantity surveyor

Managing quantity surveyor

Commercial director

Interested in becoming a quantity surveyor at Kier? Take a look at our vacancies and apply.

Mark Duff

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 15:55:22 +0000

What began as a two-week work experience stint at the Tain Academy construction site for Mark Duff, turned into a lifechanging opportunity to confront his anxiety and take on a front-facing role on the project.

When Mark’s DWP career advisor suggested he try his hand at working on a construction site, he couldn’t think of anything more nerve-wracking. “The work experience opportunity came up at a time when I wasn't in a very good place. I had been unemployed for three years and I was grieving the death of my Nan, who I was really close to. I was struggling badly with anxiety that was causing me to be quite closed off with people until I knew them well and I was very anxious about meeting new people and talking to them. I knew that communicating would be part of the job, but I wanted to face my fears and prove to myself that I could do it.”

With the support of his work advisor and Liz McIntyre – Kier’s corporate social responsibility coordinator at the Tain site – Mark said Yes to a work experience opportunity that has changed his life for the better. “Working on the site every day and talking to subcontractors, colleagues and clients really helped me to boost my confidence, challenge my anxiety and engage with people more. I was nervous at first, but I soon realised that I genuinely enjoy dealing with people and I’m good at it - I love that side of the job”.

With a supportive team around him, Mark’s confidence grew daily – and he was soon asked to step into a full-time role – this time as the very first port of call for anyone coming or going from the site. "I was absolutely over the moon when they offered me a role. During my work experience I was able to show that I am reliable, trustworthy and that they can count on me. I make sure that anyone who comes to the site gets where they need to go, I deal with subcontractors, deliveries, anyone who comes to site deals with me first and foremost– and I’m very proud of that."

Mark has been working at the site for over a year now and says that work experience gave him the opportunity to prove that he is perfect for the job: "I wouldn't be where I am without my advisor at the Job Centre and Liz at Kier, who both believed in me and gave me that initial chance."

Like many on the site, Mark grew up in Tain and is excited to play his part in developing his community. "The new academy is going to do wonders for the people here, it will bring them together to learn in one amazing space and I'm really made up to be a part of that.”

Jess Dyer

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 15:55:25 +0000

Tell us about your time at Kier?

I joined Kier in the business development team, which gave me a good understanding of the business. I then moved over to the social value team last January to try something new and gain further experience in a different role.

Tell us about your current role?

As a Social Sustainability Co-ordinator, my tasks vary greatly, making each week unique and enjoyable. I work with our sites to develop social value plans that benefit the local community, such as collaborating with schools, local charities, and colleges for work experience and T-levels. I frequently attend school engagement events to introduce careers in engineering, particularly to young women.

Our team's biggest impact is the targeted local support we provide through volunteering or hosting work experience placements. I enjoy this role because it allows me to make a positive difference in the local community.

What makes you proud to work at Kier?

The people around me, especially my team. There are so many people to learn from in Kier, and I like how supportive the company is in helping you find your passion. Kier also offers some great programmes, such as Empower, where you can really expand your skills and network with colleagues throughout the business.

I’m also grateful to Kier for helping me find a role I feel passionate about, for developing my career, and for helping me make a meaningful impact on the world around me.

How do you feel about being nominated for the Education Outreach award at the Women in Utilities Awards?

I was so surprised! The nomination came at a good time and gave me confidence in what I was doing; I felt grateful that my team thought of me and put me forward for the award. I'm passionate about getting more women into the industry and educating them that Kier has so many different roles. I'm really looking forward to the award ceremony to celebrate the success of women across the industry.

What advice would you give those just starting their career?

Don't put so much pressure on yourself to figure out what you want to do. Going out, trying new things, and gaining experience will help you discover what you enjoy. So, just go into everything with an open mind and say yes to any opportunities that come your way.

Andy May

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 15:55:27 +0000

Tell us about your time at Kier.

I've been working at Kier since April 2022. At that time, I was serving a prison sentence with just over a year left until my release. Before this, my career was in finance within the manufacturing industry. Unfortunately, around the age of thirty, I developed a destructive gambling addiction that ultimately led me to commit crimes to feed that addiction. Until then, I had never been in any trouble, but I found myself deservedly sentenced to four years in prison.

Tell us about your current role.

I'm currently working as a Senior Quantity Surveyor on the IMR contract with Anglian Water. Much of my time is spent analysing data and ensuring that we're reporting our costs accurately to the client, liaising with our operations team to mitigate any risks that may arise during their work while always looking for opportunities that could benefit the contract. The transferable skills from my past career in finance have been really useful in this role, and there's a great group of people in the team who have given me much-welcomed guidance along the way.

What is Making Ground?

During my time in prison, I was transferred to an open prison partway through my sentence. One key element of being in an open prison is the expectation to gain employment in the community. Gaining employment is an incredibly important part of offenders' rehabilitation process, particularly those serving longer sentences. In simplest terms, the Making Ground programme involves serving prisoners who are security cleared for ROTL (Release On Temporary Licence) employed within Kier. The initiative also provides training and careers advice within the prison environment for prisoners who haven't yet reached open conditions.

Why is it so important?

It is a known fact that someone leaving prison with employment is significantly less likely to re-offend. This contributes to a better society overall and aligns with the justice system's aim of keeping the public safe. I met many people in prison who, like myself, had taken the wrong path, made mistakes, and found themselves on the wrong side of the law, rightly being punished for their behaviour. When I first began my time in prison, I genuinely thought that I would never be able to get any kind of meaningful job upon my release. The opportunity to have a second chance with Kier was a game-changer for my family and me.

How do you feel about us making it to the final in the Water Industry Awards for the Making Ground initiative?

It goes without saying that I think it's incredible for Kier to be nominated in the Diversity and Inclusion Initiative of the Year category at these awards. One of the promises I made to myself early on in prison was to help people struggling with gambling when I was released. I couldn't do that without speaking up and becoming comfortable talking about my conviction, as it's a significant part of my story. Many others have spent time in prison and, understandably, might be less keen to speak about it. Still, for those who work within Kier and fit that category, I'm sure they are all as grateful as I am for the second chance this programme has provided. That being said, the nomination for this award is due to the people within the business who have put this programme together, seen the bigger picture, and made it happen. I hope those who read this join me in thanking them for creating something that can give someone that much-needed second chance.

What makes you proud to work for Kier?

Recently, I've been fortunate to meet and chat with various people across the business. Each of them has been incredibly supportive of me personally and non-judgemental of my past. I'm not sure you'd get that in all businesses, and it's a feeling of being included that I never thought I'd experience again.

Tom Garnett

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 15:55:30 +0000

Tell us about your time at Kier.

I started at Kier in 2016 as a graduate. From there, I became a design engineer and then a temporary works adviser, which led me to my current role as a project manager. I've been with Kier for about eight years now and have loved every minute! I've experienced some pivotal moments with the company, and it's great to see how everyone's hard work has paid off.

Tell us about your current role.

My current role entails seeing projects from concept to completion. I work across the Yorkshire Water and Severn Trent frameworks on a range of schemes, usually involving wastewater, varying in value. I'm involved from the tender stage, reviewing the workbook to ensure all work areas are covered. I then manage the design phase to ensure it meets the clients' needs and is buildable. From there, I lead the multi-disciplinary teams to ensure the successful delivery of the scheme.

It's a hugely varied role day-to-day, and I love learning new things about each scheme. Typically, the schemes involve civils work up front, followed by the mechanical and electrical installs, and finally, testing and commissioning. It's really rewarding to see a team come together to successfully deliver an asset that the client is proud of.

How do you feel about being nominated for the Rising Star Award at the 2024 Water Industry Awards?

It was such a surprise! Every day, I try to give 110% because I love the work I do; I don't do it for recognition, but I genuinely love the industry, so to be nominated for the award means a lot!

What advice would you give those just starting their career?

Just say yes to any opportunity you get! One thing that has taught me a lot is Kier's Raising Leaders programme. The programme is designed to improve managers' skills and help develop them into senior roles. I learned so much about myself, not just as a leader but as a person. The programme has really helped shape me and I can say I'm a better person because of it. So, take any opportunities you're given and give it your all.

What makes you proud to work at Kier?

The recognition you get is great; when people recognise your hard work, it motivates you and makes you feel valued. I really like how people from all levels will speak to you. There is no hierarchy; everyone is so open and genuine. I'm also proud to be a Gender and Inclusion Alliance Network lead. Employee networks are a great way for us to support each other and drive diversity and inclusion across the business. I'm proud to be a network lead and to ensure Kier focuses on cultivating greater gender inclusivity.

Riana Hattrell

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 15:55:32 +0000

Civil engineering and being an author, meet Riana!

Riana Hattrell is a talented graduate civil engineer, currently working on our Oxford Station project for Kier Transportation. Already, she’s managed to inspire and encourage new people into our industry through her creative ideas and characters in her book, The Build-It Family – Sammi on Site.

We recently caught up with Riana to find out a bit more about her career so far, and of course, her book!

Throughout her time in secondary school, Riana didn’t know exactly what it was she wanted to do, (something that contributes to her inspiration with her book), and it wasn’t until the age of 17 or 18, that she first thought about becoming a civil engineer. “Honestly, I think it’s because I didn’t know what a civil engineer was before then”, she explained, “I just thought there were builders on site, working in the mud, perhaps a little naïve, I guess!”

Riana then went on to study civil engineering at Loughborough University, and she was soon offered an interview with us at Kier through a scheme supported by her course. Riana joined us for a series of placements, including projects in rail, highways, and most recently, a project in Plymouth.

Riana graduated with a master’s in civil engineering, with first-class honours, and is now back working at Kier after a brief stint away travelling, working on our Oxford Station project.

So, what about the book, The Build-It Family – Sammi on Site?

During Riana’s time on our A13 project, she was nominated by her team for the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) Southern awards, where she came runner up in the “Most Promising Industrial Placement” category. “It was here that the chair of the CECA Southern spoke to me and shared an exciting opportunity to get involved with a new CECA foundation, called CECA NextGen, with a key focus of promoting the civil engineering and construction industry to current and future generations,” Riana was immediately interested and has now been with the group for over two years.

When putting the book together, one of Riana’s key focuses was on character development, and creating a character that would resonate with the targeted age group of five - to eight-year-olds with the aim of making the construction industry, and civil engineering, appeal to them. “I think Sammi, [the main character] is somewhat inspired by characters like Thomas the Tank Engine, which I grew up watching.” In the book, Sammi is gender neutral, a decision made to enable the reader to decide how they relate to the character, through their own imagination – along with the fact that it makes it clear that the construction industry is inclusive of everyone.

“As well as creating Sammi, I also wrote the story”, Riana said. “Sammi invites you along in the book to see what life is like in construction, exploring everything from sustainability to health and safety, and from job roles to technical processes”.

The team consists of five storybook helpers who enlisted the help of an aspiring illustrator. “It’s colourful, bold and bright, Alicia [the illustrator] has done a great job!”.

1,000 copies were initially printed upon release of the book, however, far more have already been sold, some of which posted as far away as South Africa and Australia. It remains part of the plan to distribute further copies of the book to libraries and schools up and down the UK, whilst still available to be purchased by individuals.

Riana has high hopes for the future of the book, with the aim to look at developing new characters, storylines, and adventures, “there’s already been talks about another book for the series, which I’m brainstorming for. Perhaps it might even be a little side-hustle for me!”

“Right now, though, I love being in the construction industry and doing the work for real,” Riana said.

It was fantastic to catch up with Riana and find out more about the successes of the book so far, and we’re excited to see what’s next!

If you’re interested in purchasing a copy of the book, you can do so here.

Anita Osasona

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 12:00:00 +0000

"With your determination and passion, you can achieve anything you want."

What does Anita do?

Anita works as a Digital Construction Coordinator (DCC). She manages Building Information Modeling (BIM), which combines different design models into one. Her job includes checking designs, spotting clashes, and helping teams, consultants, and suppliers work together. This helps projects finish smoothly and on time

Life before Kier 🎓

Anita studied psychology, economics, and IT in Year 12. She loved these subjects but wanted a more fun and creative path. So, she chose product design in the following year.

After finishing her A - Levels, Anita started university to pursue her passion for product design. The programme sparked her creativity and through her lecturer she secured a job in the industry. After graduating, Anita spent six years figuring out what she wanted to do. She worked at different companies doing various roles including window and warehouse manufacturing, telecommunications, and design. She gained valuable experience, but her creative side felt shunted.

“I found the shift tough. This reduced my love for product design in my career and personal life. I thought the problem was that I wasn’t enjoying my designs, but I lacked creative freedom.”

Reflecting on her sixth form days, she missed the freedom to create. She loved turning her ideas into prototypes and making them real products. During Covid, Anita researched career paths that had aspects of design, she learnt about building information modelling (BIM) and took courses to understand the role better. This helped her realise that she might want to pursue this path in the future and after a lot of research, she landed a job at Kier as a digital construction coordinator (DCC).

Week-to-week of a digital construction coordinator 🏗️

Her daily tasks change a lot, so no two days are the same. Her job isn’t only about using technology, but working closely with the construction team through the use of digital tools and systems. She checks and updates 3D models to spot problems that could slow things down on site and makes sure everyone involved in the project can access the right data. Since she talks to many people, good communication is a big part of her role.

"As a DCC, we want to make sure that all the information used during construction is digital. That way, it's saved forever and can't be lost or forgotten - like leaving papers on a train where someone else might find them."

BIM is not only about 3D models

A misconception about (BIM) is that a lot of people think is creating 3D models but that’s just one part of it.

It includes data collection, quality assurance systems, two-way communication tools, and managing documents on platforms like Viewpoint.

While 3D models are important, they’re not the main focus. There’s a whole digital ecosystem behind the scenes that helps projects run smoothly.

Anita is also part of our Racial Inclusion Network (RacIN) employee network.

As the RacIN Secretary, Anita ensures the smooth running of the network by organizing meetings, supporting th network leads with agendas, coordinating duties and actions, recording agreed tasks, and managing the RacIN calendar of upcoming activities and communications.

if you'd like to find out more about networks click here.

Q&A with Anita

What excites you most about the future of your field?

"I feel like digital construction is in a weird space. From what I’ve seen, it’s still in its early stages for some companies, while others already have a strong foundation.What excites me most are the opportunities. Kier is doing great, and I believe that as more companies adopt BIM, there will be room for change and innovation. When people start buying into it across the world, I’m really excited to see what that means for a job I love and enjoy doing."

Do you need a specific degree or experience to work in digital construction?

"When it comes to this role, especially within kier I don’t think there is a straight path forward kier is a great example of you can come from any background, any level of experience or education and you can still become a DCC, what matters is your determination and your passion."

What’s it like being a young woman in this field?

“Coming out of university I went straight into the manufacturing industry. One thing I realised was that for all the companies I worked for, I was always the only young woman. At Kier there is a lot more diversity in age and gender. Seeing people that looked like me in my role made me happy. Kier values people for their experience and skills rather than looking at where they are from and that makes me feel very content." - mention about her being in the Racin

Ready to explore a career in digital construction? Start your journey today - view our digital construction roles!

Carly Coleman

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 12:00:00 +0000

"My husband's job in the Armed Forces tries to be flexible but often it's me that has to bend; I'm very grateful that Kier gives me the space I need to do that."

Carly joined Kier in September 2022 in the emerging talent recruitment team and has since been promoted to emerging talent manager. Carly's husband has served in the British Army since he was 16, they've been married since 2019 and here she tells us her experience of being a military spouse.

“My friends and I were out one night, when I met my now-husband. He was out with his mates, and we got chatting and I learned he was in the military and had been for nine years.

“It was weeks after we met that we managed to go on our first date due to his work commitments. I understood that his job was demanding, but it wasn’t until after our second date that it really clicked about what this could mean if we wanted a future together.

“He explained that there may be certain events he wouldn’t be there for and that he’d be away from home for long periods of time, I brushed it off, only realising how much his work dominated our whole relationship as we became more serious.

“My career is really important to me, and I didn’t want his job to impact that, but you never know what is going to happen next. At any time, he could be moved to a different base, even somewhere 500 miles away from home, which would mean having to make a decision between him and my home.

“In the first two years of our relationship, my husband didn’t go on tour, so he was around a lot at the start, which fed into my initial denial about how difficult it might be. We were making all the new and exciting steps you do as a young couple; we’d just bought a house and then found out I was pregnant, and everything was great!

"Until one day before my 12-week scan, we got the news that my husband was being deplyed and would be away over my due date. Although the Army tried to delay this as much as possible, it meant my husband had to leave just a few weeks before our son was born, meaning he didn't get to meet him until he was four months old.

“It was really difficult for us both, I know my husband was gutted he wasn’t there for us and I was petrified of doing it all without him. We weren’t married at the time and so I wasn’t his next of kin or able to be his emergency contact. This caused me a lot of stress and my anxiety when through the roof worrying about what might happen to him.

“A few years later our second son was born, and luckily my husband was able to be there for his birth but did have to leave a week later! Then because of Covid, he couldn’t return until much later than planned, so my maternity leave was basically me alone with a three-year-old and a newborn, which in some ways, was even harder than before.

“I am incredibly proud of the work my husband does, but it can be incredibly lonely being at home and having to look after the boys without him, even though I am lucky to have a fantastic support network around me. So, when I was looking for a new employer, I knew how important it was that they would be military friendly and understand what commitments I have as a military spouse.

“The transition to Kier was easy, I knew they would be able to provide me the flexibility I would need not only as a military wife, but as a working mum too. In all my conversations I had with people I already knew here, the recruiters and my managers, it was clear that people were the most important factor here and flexibility was important to everyone. It was great to see senior leaders that I could relate to and were leading by example on the importance of work / life balance.

“I was moving to Kier at the same time that my eldest was starting school, and it was a worry that the transition to school would be quite emotional for him, as his emotional resilience had taken a significant dip whilst my husband was on tour. But even though I had only just started, there was no pressure on me to miss settling in sessions to help my child with that transition.

“As the only parent left at home, it’s the little things that are important to me like making sure I’m the one doing the school runs and being present for my children and I absolutely have that here. My husband’s job tries to be flexible but often it is me that has to bend, and I’m very grateful that Kier gives me the time and space I need to do that.

“It was an added bonus to find out Kier had just recently launched their official Armed Forces Network, which is fantastic that they’ve thought to include everyone who is touched by the military and not just veterans. It’s given me a support network that I can reach out to when my anxiety is really high, and plus the wide range of wellbeing benefits that are available for me to lean on too have been amazing.”

Immaculate's journey into a social value apprenticeship

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Meet Immaculate, a corporate social responsibility apprentice within our Kier Places business.

Immaculate joined us in 2025 studying a Level 4 apprenticeship in corporate social responsibility. Something which started as a gap-year exploration, soon turned into a career path that blends her curiosity about people and places, with real community impact.

In this blog, Immaculate shares how her apprenticeship has helped her grow in confidence, build new skills and build a career that suits her perfectly.

What is corporate social responsibility?

Corporate social responsibility – often referred to as CSR – is all about how companies like Kier impact society.

It puts responsibility on us to ensure that not only does the work we do cause as little disruption as possible, but that our presence in the community is adding value too.

“In my role, I focus on the social value side of corporate responsibility. I spend my days engaging with the community, meeting with local government and supporting charities with fundraising events – to give you an idea!

“I really love how much I get to speak with people day to day and just showing them what we get up to and the positive impact our project is making.”

What does a CSR apprentice do?

Immaculate works as part of the sustainability team in our Kier Places business; specifically on the Quiter Neighbour Support Scheme in partnership with Heathrow Airport Limited.

“No week is ever the same and I really like that,

“We have close contacts with the local government and talk about ways we can increase participation within the communities and school children and help them see more of the job opportunities that are available in construction,

“One of my favourite things to do at work is to organise events like volunteering days for the team or preparing how we’re going to support at school career fairs,

“It can be a real variety of volunteering too. Last year we supported a local food bank, sorting different products and sharing with individuals or families who are in need,

“And we also support with things like decorating the local communities for Christmas. We made lots of festive bows that went up on lampposts across town and it was so fun.”

What skills do you need to be a CSR apprentice?

“I would definitely say a big skill would have to be communication,

“That doesn’t mean you have to be super outgoing, but just being able to get your point across clearly – and listen to other people’s – is really important,

“We speak to so many different types of people every day, so you have to know how to adjust the way you speak and the words you use depending on the audience,

“One day you might be explaining Kier to a school student and the next you’re talking to a member of local government so it’s important you can adapt,

“And another thing that helps is to be open minded,

“Be ready to learn, hear different people’s stories and be willing to challenge your own world view so you can work collaboratively with everyone to provide really positive impacts in the local communities.”

How does an apprenticeship work?

As a Level 4 apprentice, Immaculate is working towards a Level 4 qualification in corporate social responsibility – this is a similar level as a foundation degree.

“I really like the balance of work I get with my apprenticeship,

“For four days of the week I am working, sometimes in the office, sometimes at home and sometimes I’m out and about at events or visiting different stakeholders,

“Then every Friday I go into college – it’s the perfect balance for me of learning and working and I like that I get such regular touchpoints with my tutors."

Immaculate’s apprenticeship will take about two years to complete, including her end point assessment. Throughout her apprenticeship Immaculate will be set coursework, assignments and will have to sit a few exams too.

It’s her responsibility to collate all the evidence of her formal learning she completes at college, examples of what she delivers in her role, as well as any off the job hours which could be things like webinars, volunteering days and additional training opportunities.

Then, Immaculate has to complete an end point assessment, which is essentially a process to verify that she actually has developed the knowledge and skills she needs to pass.

What support do you get as an apprentice?

One of the great things about being an apprentice is all the support you get. Not only are you supported by your manager, but you also have the support of your emerging talent team at Kier and the support staff at college/university.

“Throughout my course we have lots of different modules we have to complete through presentations, professional discussions and coursework,

“What’s really nice is if my learning coach can see I’ve not quite done enough to pass that module, she will reassign it to us with feedback so we can go back and improve,

“It’s really nice that you have the opportunity to improve, rather than just taking one exam or something and then the result being final.”

Why an apprenticeship?

“At school, I studied sociology, geography and politics and originally the plan was to go to university to study geography,

“But after really thinking about it, I decided to defer my placement for a year and take a gap year,

“I think I kind of realised I wanted time to myself to experience the world before committing to another three to four years of further education,

“So I mostly worked part-time in a supermarket and researched into different career paths to figure out what I actually wanted to do as a career,

“I felt like I was rushing into the university route and I’m so glad I took that time to figure out what I really want my career to look like,

“In my research, I found out more about CSR and it sounded like a perfect midpoint of all my A-Level subjects which I really loved,

“And I also liked the sound of an apprenticeship and that combination of learning and working,

“I saw it as a way to broaden my horizon; I felt like if I went to university, I wouldn’t have had as much experience as I already have in the past seven months working at Kier,

“I’d have definitely been more laid back if I went to university, but being to work and learn at the same time has been so beneficial to me,

“I already have so much more commercial awareness and understanding of how businesses function, so I feel like an apprenticeship is going to give me a really solid foundation for whatever direction my career goes in.”

Interested in becoming an apprentice at Kier? Take a look at our vacancies and apply!

Jakub Colby - Trainee Estimator

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Let us introduce you to Jakub Colby, a trainee estimator working in our pre-construction teams within Kier Construction.

Joining us in 2025, fresh out of Sixth Form, Jakub is currently working towards his Level 6 degree apprenticeship in quantity surveying.

Sparked by a chance meeting with Kier at a careers fair, Jakub’s journey into construction is a great example of how important it is to do your research and find something that truly interests you.

Now at Kier, Jakub’s role plays a key part in delivering exciting projects that impact local communities.

In this blog, find out more about what a trainee estimator actually does, why Jakub chose an apprenticeship instead of university and how he’s building his future at Kier.

What does a trainee estimator do?

“So, before we bid for a construction or infrastructure project the pre-construction team will work together to figure out how much a project will cost to build,

“Once the job is won, we then decide exactly which subcontractors we will use, and work with the client to get a price firmly agreed,

“As a trainee estimator, my role is to support the estimating team in calculating how much jobs are going to cost,

“At the moment I am on a project called RAF Cranwell, and we’ve just entered the pre-contractual phase,

“This means Kier have won the contract through a framework and are going to be the ones delivering the project, but we haven’t started building anything yet,

“I’m still early in my career so I’ve mainly been learning the ropes,

“But eventually I’ll get involved in things like speaking to subcontractors to get quotes, and advising the team on the best providers for different materials and things like that.”

How did you know you wanted to do an apprenticeship?

“When I was studying for my A-Levels, I already had a part-time job so the idea of working and learning didn’t seem that daunting,

“I guess I’d also already got used to earning money, so the idea of going to university wasn’t as attractive as an apprenticeship,

“And I really like that with a degree apprenticeship, you kind of get the best of both worlds,

“With my degree, I still get to go to university for a week every few months so I’m getting that social side too.”

What attracted you to a career in estimating?

“So always knew I wanted to do something with numbers, maybe something financial, so I actually thought I wanted to be an accountant,

“Then I had a careers fair at school and someone from Kier was there!

“I didn’t think I wanted to be in construction because I thought it was always jobs like bricklaying or carpentry,

“But after speaking with the person from Kier, I realised it was much more than that, so I went away and looked at all the roles they had, not just ones in the finance team,

“That’s when I spotted one near me in estimating and reading the job advert it sounded like a really interesting way of applying my love of numbers instead of a traditional career in finance.”

What attracted you to Kier?

“When I realised estimating was something I was interested in, I looked into Kier a bit more and realised how big Kier actually is!

“After that my mind was completely made up, I just thought it’s such a big company with so many different opportunities that I couldn’t really be anywhere better,

“Since joining, I have really loved how I feel like I am part of something important,

“We're building things that impact and improve people's daily lives, schools, hospitals, roads etc; I actually feel like I’m contributing to society,

“I quite like that, gives me a good feeling.”

How does an apprenticeship work?

“As a trainee estimator, I’m enrolled on a quantity surveying degree apprenticeship at Sheffield Hallam University,

“Quantity surveying is a slightly different job, but the technical knowledge is very similar, you just apply it differently in estimating,

“To gain your degree, you work your way through the different apprenticeship levels each year,

“So this first year, I’m technically a Level 4 apprentice which is similar to a foundation degree,

“Then I’ll move up to Level 5, and graduate with a Level 6 which is the same as a post-graduate degree,

“It will take about five years to complete, and I have four block weeks a year where I go up to uni, stay in a hotel for a week with the other apprentices,

“This is all paid for by Kier, my hotel, my travel and my food – which is great,

“When I’m not at uni, I still have assignments to complete and exams to revise for, so my manager and I have agreed that every Friday will be my study day,

"Then at work, I'm learning practical skills whilst also learning the theory at university which I think will set me up better in the long term."

What are your top tips for applying for an apprenticeship?

“Don’t try to be a robot and give perfect, polished answers,

“In my application for Kier, I tried to answer the questions as personally as possible and in the way I naturally speak and write,

“Also do loads of research about the company before applying, then you can make sure your application matches what they’re looking for and the company values,

“It helps make your application stand out more but also it helps you make a decision about whether this is somewhere you want to work,

“I definitely made the mistake with other companies where I just applied and then researched, and then realised they weren’t companies I wanted to work for really.”

What questions do they ask in an apprenticeship interview?

“One of my interview questions was to do with being sustainable,

“I’m a big fan of cars, so I spoke about electric cars and debated whether they are better for the environment or not,

“The interviewers know you’re probably coming straight from school, they’re not expecting you to have loads of work experience to talk about,

“And this sounds cliché, but I know it helped my interview, and that was just to be yourself!

“I think it’s really important to show off your own opinions and way of thinking – in an apprentice interview they’re looking for potential, not experience.”

Professional development at Kier: Avais Ahmed

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000

When I first set foot on a construction site, I had no idea just how much impact that experience would have. So much has happened in a relatively short space of time – including awards I never imagined I’d win and experiences that have shaped me.

This blog is a chance to share that journey; how it started, what I’ve learned as I work towards my RICS chartership and why I’m more excited than ever about the future – and I hope it will inspire others.

My career so far

2026 will mark my third year at Kier which is exciting. My journey at Kier actually started when I joined the Musgrove Park Hospital Surgical Centre team for my industrial placement, working on the project from the ground up. I absolutely loved seeing the work I did turn into reality onsite, and, when I returned to uni for my final year, I was really pleased to get the opportunity to stay at Kier part-time.

After I graduated I came back to a full-time role as a graduate quantity surveyor, and now they are supporting me in achieving my RICS chartership. This means that despite being done with uni I’m now able to learn and grow quicker in my career, picking up skills and advice to help me progress. I’ve done almost everything I need to in terms of competencies, getting them signed off by counsellors – many of whom have turned out to work at Kier too – and then all I need to do is my case study, final exam and interview.

I’m only three years in, but I’ve achieved some incredible things in my career so far. I’m really proud of these achievements and I know many of them I wouldn’t have been able to do without the support Kier has given me.

Last year was incredible: I won the CICES Robin Jones Award, the Constructing Excellence Bristol Club Prize and the Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence at my university too. Cherry on top – I also won the Emerging Talent Award at Kier!

This has opened up so many doors for me. I’ve been invited to be a committee member and junior board member for Constructing Excellence Bristol and the Tomorrow’s Leaders panel for the CICES. These are all fantastic opportunities which I feel so privileged to be a part of and help shape the future of the industry.

I wouldn’t have been able to achieve all this without Kier. I’m passionate about diversity and inclusion and it’s the work I’ve been doing in this space that supported my award submissions. Kier gave me the platform and the support to do more.

Why quantity surveying?

If I’m completely honest, what first attracted me was the money! But what’s kept me in quantity surveying, and at Kier, is the overwhelming sense of purpose building for your community gives you. I was actually an estate agent in a past life. I did that for about five years, but I wanted to be a building surveyor. I went to university, and it was in one of my first lectures that the programme leader was talking about all the different roles in construction, including quantity surveying.

That sparked my interest, I started looking into it and it sounded exactly like my sort of thing. I like being organised, I like negotiating, talking to people and building relationships. Which is all stuff you do as a quantity surveyor. One day you’re scheduling scaffolding, another day you’re procuring office space and the equipment to go with it. I love the variation.

I was also just fascinated by construction. I would always be peeking into construction sites, seeing what was going on, wondering what it was going to become and now I just get to see it every day, and it never gets old.

You know what you’re working towards, and every time a wall gets put up or a roof goes on, you can see how the work you’re doing is leading to something big. To everyone else it looks like this huge building popped out of nowhere but when you’re part of the team, you know the work that went into it. I’m always so proud to be part of it and I love spotting other Kier projects whilst I’m out.

Why chartership?

The question should be “why not” in my opinion. Honestly feels like a no-brainer.
It’s extremely important to me and my progression. You don’t have to get chartered, but it’s just a great way to show the rest of the world that you’re competent and an expert. Plus, Kier gives you £1,000 as a well done when you become a full chartered member and who doesn’t want that?!

A chartership is a professional qualification that stays with you for your whole career. It’s always going to benefit me, as well as Kier, so if Kier is offering to support me through it, paying for my membership, giving me the opportunities to try new things so I can sign it off as a competency, there’s literally no reason to not get chartered.

Balancing chartership and the day job

Because a chartership is basically just evidence of everything you would normally be doing day-to-day I haven’t found it difficult to balance.
One of the more difficult elements is finding a councellor to sign it off. Councellors are already chartered, and can sign off a competency to say, “yep I can verify Avais has done this”.

They can be hard to come by, but so often it’s turned out I’ll be sitting two desks away from one at Kier! I’ve got a counsellor on the project I’m currently on and she’s brilliant – always asking any questions I have and generally supporting me through my chartership journey. My current focus is now getting my written case study done. This is essentially an essay about one competency of your choosing. I’ve chosen a bit of a controversial one: the conflict between operational and commercial teams in the construction industry. But I think the panel is going to find it interesting – and more importantly it’s something I’m interested in too. I’m working hard towards chartership, but choosing an area that interests me has kept me on track and engaged.

This stage of my career feels like just the beginning. I’m more determined than ever to make a meaningful impact on the construction industry and the communities we serve. Kier has given me the platform, the confidence and the opportunities to grow and I’m so excited to continue pushing myself, learning and contributing to the industry I love. With chartership in sight, I’m ready for whatever comes next.

A parent’s role in their child’s career journey

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Navigating career advice for your children is tough. The working world is not the same as when we first entered it and with so many more career options out there, guiding your teenagers isn’t always easy.

So fellow parents, I wanted to share some of my own experiences to help you support your children on their journeys.

About me

Feels right that first I should share my credentials. I’m Kate, Transformation Finance Director in Kier Infrastructure. I have two daughters, Emily, 21 and Charlotte, 18: prime age for thinking about their first career move.

My own career started on a Youth Training Programme (YTS), like an apprenticeship. I didn’t like school that much, so learning on the job suited me perfectly.

Ending up in finance was a happy accident. I was good at maths, and it was the logical career path to follow. Studying as I worked by completing my B-Tec, AAT and ACCA qualifications throughout my teens and early twenties, my learning didn’t end there though, as last year I completed a degree in Applied Accounting – supported by my manager Paul Jackson – which is something I’m incredibly proud of.

Emily and Charlotte’s journey so far

My eldest, Emily, has always been drawn to academia and has always been set on being a teacher. She loved school, loves books and particularly loved History at school – now her university subject. She’s due to graduate in the summer, then start her PGCE in September this year (26) to become a primary teacher.

My youngest, Charlotte, is a bit more like me: practical and financially minded. At first, she was unsure whether to choose an apprenticeship or university. She weighed the pros and cons carefully, and ultimately, it came down to figuring out exactly what type of experience she wanted to have. Once she finishes her B-Tec in Business, Finance and Marketing in the summer, Charlotte will be heading off to study Business at university

Apprenticeships vs university

As an apprentice myself, I’m of course a massive advocate for the earn as you learn method. When supporting my girls, I wanted them to see apprenticeships as a serious option alongside university.

When I left school, the “done” thing was to do your A-Levels, go to university to get a degree and if you didn’t do that, then you were to get a job wherever you could. However, that job may not necessarily have had a training plan associated with it. That’s not so much the case now.

More employers are offering even more apprenticeships, and with government-backed schemes like the Youth Guarantee, I can imagine apprenticeships becoming more of the norm.

However, this doesn’t discount the benefits of a traditional university education – something which both of my daughters have decided was right for them.

Emily’s decision was straightforward. She wanted to be a teacher – one of the careers you can’t currently do an apprenticeship in!

Charlotte was torn for a while of which one to choose. She loved the idea of working and earning a living but also drawn to the independence of university. In the end, I think she has been inspired by her sister’s university experience and wanted a piece of that for herself.

What helped inspire their career journeys

Work experience played a big part in this. Through my role as school governor, Emily was able to spend time in a primary school and realised she loved working with primary-age children instead of secondary.

Work experience was also good for Charlotte; however, office experience can be trickier since so much is digital now you can’t really “do” anything. What helped most was hearing people’s career stories and learning how varied career paths to the same role can be obtained.

Speaking to other adults is key. Encourage your children to talk to everyone – family, friends, everyone! – about what they do. There are countless jobs they won’t know exist until they meet someone who does one of them.

And if you can, speak to their schools about offering career sessions. In my experience, schools really welcome input from local employers. At Kier, we run “Kierriculum” sessions that link school subjects to careers in construction and the kids love it (at all ages). If your child’s school would like a session, just let the social value team know and they’d love to help.

What can a parent do to support their child’s career decisions

Firstly, remember it is a daunting time for both you and your child, its probably the first big “grown up” decision they are having to make for themselves.

Going to careers fairs and university and college open days was invaluable. I would strongly advise to go to them as you get a feel for the course, lecturers and the place itself. Neither you, nor your child, can decide on what’s right for them without going and getting the feel.

If it’s university, this is somewhere your child has to live for the next three, four, sometimes five years. It’s important that you both get a feel for what it’s like to actually be there.

And as a parent, it’s important you help prep your children before you go. Talk to them about questions they could ask and make sure you’re prepared to ask your own. As parents, we ask questions from a different perspective and think of things our children wouldn’t know to ask, so it’s important that you know you’re there to do your research too (even if your child tells you, you can’t ask anything).

If it’s college, it’s important the school’s teaching style matches your child’s learning style. We’re lucky to have three great colleges local to us but they all had very different teaching styles. My girls went to two different colleges because it suited them. It’s your job as a parent to help guide those sorts of decisions when it can be easy to be swayed because friends, or family already go somewhere.

And my biggest tip is to talk to the students! The teachers and lecturers are great to get to know the course a bit more, but to get to the juicy stuff, you have to speak to the kids.

Ask them what they like about their course, their uni halls, their teachers, everything. Do they feel safe? Is the nightlife good? How easy is it to travel home?

And don’t be put off by the grade requirements. If they seem slightly ambitious, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t try, especially if it’s somewhere they really want to go. We saw the universities grading requirements reduce over the period of application to the actual results day (and probably clearing but thankfully we didn’t have to utilise that process).

There is so much more I could say, but hopefully this has been a helpful starting point. Good luck to you and your children on this journey – it’s an incredibly exciting (and daunting) moment in their lives!