First chartership for Salford apprentice

The very first student to complete and achieve chartership via the Construction Site Management Degree Apprenticeship at the University of Salford has spoken about her experience and accomplishments in the industry so far, including working on the restoration of Manchester Town Hal.

Earning her membership into the Chartered Institute of Building (MCIOB) – a professional body for construction managers and leaders – Leah has been working for construction company, Bovis, to achieve this goal.

Talking about her experiences in the industry and juggling studies with work, she said: “It’s eye opening because it’s essentially a reflection of what you’ve done so far and proving your own existing skills. There’s a lot of reflection, and it’s an opportunity to see how far you’ve come. You’re given quite a lot of responsibility on the job so it can be challenging, but it has also been a really rewarding experience.”

Having previously worked as a beauty therapist at a salon, Leah described feeling the need for a career-change to reach her full potential. Eager to switch paths, she applied to apprenticeships via the government website and after several interviews which she approached with “an open mind”, she was offered the position of Construction Manager realising it was a role she would “fit right into”.

Leah has been working on the prestigious Manchester Town Hall restoration project. With the work still ongoing, she mentioned the key focus is to continue making the building more accessible. Now one of the construction managers for the development, she manages the lower ground and ground floors, overseeing monitoring and evaluation tasks, and working with a breadth of contractors where she handles partnerships and trades.

“The goal is to continue the town hall project and getting it finished. Education wise, I think I’m going to relax for a little bit. I’ve done a lot in the last six years, so I think I deserve a small break,” she said.

Leah thanked her colleagues at Bovis and the module leaders and coordinators at the University for being so supportive and her points-of-call for any queries she had, especially noting the one-to-one sessions Salford academics provided her with.

Lorraine Eaton, General Manager, construction academy for Bovis, said: “Leah has worked so hard and utilised all the support and technical training offered to her from everyone at Bovis and we are very proud she has achieved this status.

“She also received a First Class Honours in her degree and was also awarded the CIOB certificate of excellence for the best performing student in the construction project management degree.

“She is a testament to the future talent in the industry and a strong ambassador and example for our Early Talent programmes.”

Cllr Garry Bridges, Deputy Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Leah is a shining example of how the Our Town Hall project to repair, partially restore and refurbish a key part of Manchester’s heritage is also leaving a legacy in skills and employment for city residents. She’s grasped the opportunity to learn on the job with both hands and this chartership is a testament to her enthusiasm and hard work.”