Meet Alexis
Where it all started...
Alexis Ezekiel‑Hart joined Kier in 2023, but her journey into construction started long before then, back when she was a child building entire worlds out of LEGO. What began as a favourite toy slowly became the foundation for a future career.
She remembers spending hours constructing buildings, experimenting with shapes, and figuring out how to make her blocks stand tall. Those early moments of curiosity and creativity planted the seed for a interest in the world of construction.
“I always knew it was going to be construction; I just didn’t know what part of construction it was going to be."
Architecture intrigued her so did site engineering and even construction law crossed her mind. But the one thing they all had in common was that she wanted to build things that made an impact.
LEGO gave her that first taste of problem‑solving, design, and imagination. Construction felt like the real‑life version of what she loved most.
Before starting her apprenticeship, Alexis was in sixth form studying Maths, Physics, Chemistry, and English.
University didn’t feel like the right fit. The classroom felt restrictive, and she wanted something more hands‑on and more practical.
How she joined Kier
Her journey began when Kier visited her school to give a talk about construction. Instead of waiting for an opportunity to come to her, Alexis took initiative; she approached the site manager directly, expressed her interest in the industry, and asked for work experience, providing the specific days she was available.
Shortly after, her head of year informed her about a degree apprenticeship opportunity with Kier. She applied, secured an interview, and landed the role.
It was the perfect fit, allowing her to learn, gain hands-on experience, and earn a living while working toward her degree.
“I always knew university wasn’t for me. I struggled in classroom environments and wasn’t sure how to navigate them, especially after discovering I had a learning disability in Year 11.”
“I wanted something practical, something where I could learn by doing. An apprenticeship just made sense.”
That decision led Alexis to Kier, where she started a Construction Management apprenticeship.
Starting out on site
“What I enjoyed most was being able to apply what I was learning straight away, you're not just studying theory you’re seeing projects come to life and understanding how everything fits together.”
Alexi’s early experiences involved:
- Working alongside subcontractors
- Learning how to read and interpret drawings
- Understanding how projects are coordinated and delivered
“One of the biggest challenges was balancing work and study. You’re expected to perform in a real job while still learning it takes discipline and resilience.”
“Despite the challenges everything seemed to fall into place. It gave me a real sense of direction and purpose.”
Making the move to Corporate Social Responsibility
While working on site, Alexis began to notice something beyond the build itself.
“I started becoming more interested in the wider impact construction has on people, communities, and opportunities.”
“I realised I was drawn to social value, inclusion, sustainability all the things that sit around the project, not just the physical build.”
After building a strong foundation in site management, Alexis made the decision to transition into a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) apprenticeship.
“It was a big decision, I’d worked hard in construction management and was proud of that journey, I wasn’t leaving construction I was just taking my experience into an area that aligned more with what motivates me.”
From Construction to CSR
The transition from Construction Management into Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) allowed Alexis to blend her technical project knowledge with vital soft skills like stakeholder management, communication, and confidence.
Her standout achievements are:
- Getting nominated for apprentice of the year.
- She pivoted into CSR to create meaningful opportunities for others.
- Through her journey she's realised she is highly adaptable, resilient, and capable of driving strategic change.
“I’d like to continue growing in this space and eventually move into a leadership role where I can influence strategy and drive change.”
“Understanding how projects work has been really valuable. It helps me make social value more practical and realistic for site teams.”
“I’ve developed my communication, stakeholder management, and confidence massively, you’re working with different people, explaining goals, and bringing teams together.”
Day-to-day life of a CSR apprentice
Today, Alexis’ role looks very different from their time on site.
“My day-to-day now is all about people and impact,”.
That includes:
- Working with project teams to deliver social value targets
- Engaging with schools and communities
- Coordinating placements, events, and opportunities
- Supporting reporting and tracking impact
- Partnering with stakeholders to create meaningful outcomes
“What I enjoy most is knowing the work has a positive impact beyond the project itself.”
Alexi’s story shows that it’s okay to change, explore and find out what it is that you’re truly passionate about. Find out more about our apprenticeships by clicking here
