A career shaped by many routes

One thing has become very clear to me during my time in construction. There is no single route into this industry.

Across the projects I have been involved in I have worked alongside people who arrived through many different pathways. Some came through university with strong academic foundations, others began as apprentices on site, and some joined the industry later after studying or working in completely different fields. What unites them is not where they started, but what they go on to achieve.

Construction has always been an industry where potential becomes visible through experience. When people are given responsibility and exposed to real challenges, you begin to see what they can achieve. That is something I have had the privilege of witnessing many times through the teams I have worked with at BAM.

Seeing potential grow

Across the projects we are delivering in Scotland today I see that same journey continuing within my own team at BAM. We have graduates who have come through engineering and construction management degrees and bring strong technical capability. Alongside them are colleagues who joined through apprenticeships and developed their skills step by step while contributing to live projects. Some of the people now leading major parts of our work began their careers in exactly that way.

In my experience the best candidates are not defined by where they started or which route brought them into the industry. What matters far more is their drive, their determination and their willingness to take responsibility. When individuals are exposed to real experience, real responsibility and the consequences that come with delivery, something important happens. It is not only that managers begin to recognise their strengths. Often it is the individual themselves who begins to realise what they can achieve. That moment of recognition builds confidence, sharpens judgement and often marks the point where someone begins to take ownership of their career.

Through doing

Construction is not only about theory. It is about delivery, teamwork and solving problems in real environments. You can study construction in a classroom, but there is also something important about standing on a site on a February morning in Scotland and understanding what the work really involves. That experience develops resilience and confidence in a way that only real responsibility can.
Work is where those qualities develop. That is why the industry benefits from offering multiple routes into construction. Some people thrive through academic study and structured learning. Others discover their strengths when they are given responsibility early and develop through experience. At BAM we see how both pathways contribute to strong project teams and successful delivery.

Investing in the next generation

One of the most encouraging things I see today is how many opportunities exist for young people entering the industry. At BAM we see that every day through our apprenticeship and graduate programmes, where individuals are able to build careers while developing their qualifications.
Many of the young people coming through apprenticeship routes today will achieve the same academic outcomes as their graduate peers while gaining experience on live projects. Earning while learning allows individuals to develop confidence through responsibility while building the qualifications that support long term careers. It also allows organisations like BAM to invest directly in the development of the next generation of professionals.

The strength of different perspectives

Another lesson I have learned is that teams are strongest when they include people with different experiences and perspectives. In my team today there are individuals who studied traditional construction disciplines, others who trained in different subjects before joining the industry, and apprentices who have developed their careers through practical experience on site.
That diversity strengthens the way we work. It encourages new thinking, challenges assumptions and helps teams solve problems more effectively. It also reflects the reality that the best people do not always arrive through the same door. What matters is how they grow once they are given the opportunity.

Building successful careers

As the industry continues to evolve it is important that we continue to value a wide range of pathways into construction. University will remain essential for many roles, particularly those that require strong technical knowledge. At the same time apprenticeships provide a powerful route for people whose strengths emerge through practical experience and responsibility.

The goal should always be the same. We are building successful and rewarding careers while delivering projects that make a difference to the communities they serve. At BAM I have seen how powerful that can be when organisations invest in people, recognise potential and give individuals the opportunity to grow.

Looking forward

Construction offers something unique. It gives people the chance to contribute to projects that shape communities, build infrastructure and leave a lasting impact. For young people considering their future it remains an industry full of opportunity.

One of the most rewarding parts of the job is seeing the next generation step forward and develop their own careers. At BAM I have seen people join the industry through many different routes and grow into confident professionals and leaders. The path into construction may differ, but the opportunity to build a meaningful career is there for those who are prepared to take it.