Scottish Apprenticeship Week and National Careers Week: Three BAM colleagues show there is more than one route into construction

Harry Dempster is currently working on projects rebuilding educational facilities across Greater Glasgow while studying for a degree apprenticeship in Construction and the Built Environment. Before joining BAM, he worked as a subcontractor carrying out internal stud work and external steel framing. That hands-on experience gave him a practical understanding of how construction projects operate day to day and the pressures that sit behind each package of work. Today, he continues to build on that foundation while combining site responsibilities with university study.

“Working as a subcontractor gave me a real understanding of how work is delivered and the pressures that sit behind every package on site. That experience has been the foundation I’ve been able to build on.”

 

Max Rafferty is also continuing his studies while developing his career on site, but his route into the industry came after deciding to change direction earlier in his education. After beginning university, he reassessed the path he was on and chose a work-based route that allowed him to learn within a live construction environment. Looking back, he reflects positively on that decision and the opportunity it created to build practical knowledge while contributing to real projects.

“Being on site every day means you see how everything connects. You learn from the people around you and start to understand how each part of the project contributes to the final result.”
 

Maddison Smith followed a different route again. After leaving school, she chose to attend university and continues to study while building experience within a professional site role at BAM. While university provided the structure she was looking for, working alongside experienced colleagues on site has helped translate that learning into practical delivery. The support of the team during her first professional role also helped settle the nerves that often come with starting a career in a new industry.

“When I left school, university was the route I chose because I wanted the structure it offered and the chance to keep developing. What I’ve discovered since joining BAM is how valuable it is to combine that learning with real project experience.”