Research from The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) shows there are a higher number of workers in the construction industry aged over sixty than any other age group, and that the number of workers under the age of thirty is declining. The impact of this on the industry will be the loss of valuable experience, skills and knowledge as employees reach retirement age.

At Eden Facades, we understand the importance of attracting people to the industry and continually invest in developing and upskilling our team. We currently have three apprentices in the office, working with us whilst studying, to gain experience that will give them the competitive advantage when they graduate.

Introducing our apprentices…

Harrison Michaelson

Harrison started working with us back in 2018 and is studying for a Quantity Surveying Degree.

Through working in the Eden Facades office four days a week, Harrison is developing ‘hands-on’ experience in an Assistant Quantity Surveyor role. His duties include preparing tender documents, checking orders from clients, valuations, forecasts and working with the Quantity Surveyor to manage project cashflow and payments for subcontractors.

Commenting on getting started in the industry, Harrison says: “My Dad works in construction and when I was growing up he would sometimes take me to visit small jobs before the project began. Being introduced to the industry from a young age gave me an interest in the sector and helped me to make the decision about the type of role I wanted in the future.

“Eden is a great place for apprentices, we’re given the freedom to learn and express ourselves, but also the opportunity to ask questions and discuss anything that we’re unsure of or concerned about.

“I’m so pleased that I decided to go for the role; the qualification will allow me to become a full-time Quantity Surveyor with a degree and six years of on-the-job experience”.

Mackenzie Stewart

Mackenzie joined the team just over two years ago and is studying Business Administration and Quantity Surveying.

The qualifications gained will demonstrate that Mackenzie can manage legislations, for example GDPR and RIDDOR, and allow her to progress in her career as a Quantity Surveyor.

Mackenzie’s current role involves working with the Eden Facades Estimating team to measure and price jobs for clients, send the quotes out and then manage them to ensure they come back within good time.

On working for Eden Facades, Mackenzie explains: “My brother had worked with Eden Facades as a Site Manager and introduced me. As soon as I walked into the office, I knew they would be a very good team of people to work with. Every job is different, with interesting challenges that mean I am constantly building my knowledge”.

 Sam Hill

Having joined Eden Facades in 2017, Sam now works four days a week whilst studying for a Quantity Surveying Degree and RICS accreditation.

Primarily working within the team as an Estimator, Sam is responsible for helping to calculate the cost of projects and winning work for the company.

Gaining his degree and RICS membership will allow Sam to go on to achieve a chartership in surveying, one of the highest qualifications a Quantity Surveyor can have and that will greatly improve his future career progression.

Sam explains why he was interested in the industry and some of the benefits the apprenticeship has had: “I saw many opportunities for growth within the construction industry and seeing a lot of construction projects around me made me curious as to how it worked. Eden Facades offered me the position and the apprenticeship, and I happily accepted.

“My position at Eden Facades has presented me with a lot of exposure to the industry and I’ve been able to grow professionally. After the apprenticeship I will be looking for a more senior position, as either Estimating or Surveying Supervisor, or head of department”.

We want to encourage our employees to invest in their futures by building on existing skills and developing new ones. At a time when there is a serious shortage of skilled workers in the sector it is more important than ever to support our teams and attract a new generation of talent.

If you’d like to find out more about working for us, please get in touch on 01268 744199 or email office@edenfacades.cou.uk