Isaiah’s Journey
One of Kier’s newest members! Isaiah came to join us in 2025 as a degree apprentice quantity surveyor. He’s currently working on the 33 Piccadilly project in London.
Before construction, Isaiah was studying economics, philosophy, ethics and English literature at college. Alongside his studies, he pursued a professional football career, something he had been committed to from a young age.
From the age of 14 to 16, he played professionally but was balancing the demands of training with the pressure of schoolwork.
“Balancing both was quite difficult but I had the right support around me and that made things easier”
He trained three times a week, with matches every Saturday. His routine consisted of going to school, straight to training, back home to rest, do some homework, get ready for the following day. It was challenging, but football was his passion.
One of his favourite parts of the game was scoring goals.
“As a forward, that feeling of scoring against the opposite team was one of the many things I looked forward to.
Finding Construction
Isaiah first discovered the construction industry through his mentor at Construction Youth Trust. She regularly visited his sixth form to talk about different career options in the sector.
Through her guidance, he was able to secure a two‑week work placement, where he was introduced to quantity surveying for the first time.
That experience sparked something new.
From that moment, Isaiah knew he wanted to explore this path further. He applied to several companies, but one stood out to him - Kier.
He was particularly drawn to Kier because he connected with the company’s values.
“Collaborative, trusted, and focused these are the values I was looking for in a company that could support my development and help me grow into a successful quantity surveyor.”
During his interview, he was also encouraged by how openly the managers spoke about career progression and long-term development. That conversation reassured him that he could grow, learn, and build a future here.
From Football to Construction: Transferable Skills
Isaiah believes the worlds of sport and construction are more similar than they seem.
“The fundamental skills I’ve seen that are needed in both worlds are leadership, teamwork and communication. All three are very important.”
In construction, he now helps score subcontractors each month based on performance recording feedback in Excel and sending it to the supply chain team. Keeping track of performance and ensuring work meets Kier’s standards requires collaboration across the design, operational, and commercial teams.
In football, communication was just as crucial. Before every game, players met to discuss strategy, review the game plan, and understand their individual responsibilities. Clear communication ensured everyone knew what they needed to do the same principle that drives successful project delivery in construction.
Looking Ahead
Thinking of the future, Isaiah has many goals he is looking foward to.
" One of the many goals I am looking forward to is to finish my apprenticeship with a first, I'll also like to see the 33 Piccadilly project through to completion and witness it's impact on the community. I'd like to develop my skills further by managing high-value packages and progress my career by taking on greater responsability".
Thinking about a career change? Discover how the skills you already have could be the start of a new journey, just like the leap from professional football to quantity surveying. Explore our careers site and find your next opportunity!
