University student Ben gains construction experience with Stepnell
Ben Davis
A student from the University of Plymouth is being given the chance to build up his practical construction experience through a year-long work placement with construction and civil engineering firm Stepnell.
Ben Davis, 22, is undertaking a placement with the company as part of the work-based learning element of his BSc (Hons) Building Surveying and the Environment degree.
As part of his placement, Ben, who is in the third year of his four-year course, has already undertaken a variety of tasks. After a spell on site with Stepnell, he is now working as a member of the company’s project management team based at its head offices in Rugby. As part of his studies, he is also required to write a number of reports about his time with Stepnell, which will be assessed by his university tutors.
“When I completed my A levels, I did some work as a labourer and it rekindled the interest I’d had in construction as a child,” explains Ben, who is from Hemel Hempstead. “I knew that to advance in my career though, I’d need to gain formal qualifications, so I began looking at suitable courses. I saw that the University of Plymouth ran a BSc (Hons) degree in Environmental Construction Surveying which looked ideal. I did this for a year and my marks were high enough for me to move up to the Building Surveying and the Environment course.”
After a friend recommended approaching Stepnell about a placement, Ben joined the company’s team working on a project to build a new medical centre in Shefford, Bedfordshire, as a trainee assistant site manager. Working closely with site manager Andy Higham, Ben was given responsibilities including checking measurements, ordering materials and liaising with the company’s subcontractors.
“I’ve really enjoyed my placement so far; in addition to my work on site, I’ve learned about cost analysis, choosing suppliers and building specification while I’ve been with the project management team,” says Ben “It’s given me experience of lots of different areas of the industry and a good idea of what I can expect in my future career.
“I do love the ‘hands-on’ aspects of construction most and when I’ve completed my qualification, I hope to become a site manager.”
“Ben is exactly the sort of new recruit the construction industry needs – talented, committed and with a great enthusiasm to learn,” says Mark Wakeford, Stepnell managing director. “We’d like to see more young people following Ben’s lead. We’ve been very impressed with the standard of work he has produced in his time with us and we’re sure he will go on to enjoy a long and successful construction career.”