The Buy Social approach includes recruitment opportunities for people who are education leavers or have been long term unemployed. When someone who meets this criteria secures a role on a Buy Social contract, they can be counted towards the overall Buy Social target as an apprentice, a student, a professional trainee or an other trainee.
Jennifer Cruickshank, Group HR & CR Manager at Henry Brothers told us: “Henry Brothers have experience working across education, defence, commercial, industrial, transport and healthcare sectors. As an equal opportunities employer, we are always on the lookout for great talent: people who think differently, are solution focused, and feel compelled to always go the extra mile to deliver solutions that exceed everyone’s expectations – including their own. We have a great team of people working in all areas of our company.”
Teri joined Henry Brothers’ team as a professional trainee in September 2020, working on a contract with a Buy Social target of 416 weeks of employment for people who are disadvantaged in the labour market. We asked her a few questions about her experience so far:
Can you tell us a bit about what you were doing before you came here?
Before I came to Henry Brothers, I had been working for a facilities management contractor and a Fit-Out contractor. I had been involved in projects including the largest Government Office relocation to Lanyon Place and working in 5 star hotels across London. (Unfortunately I missed Beyonce on one of my site visits, but I did do various room refurbs for celebs who had been staying in the hotel.)
During this time, I completed an HND in Construction and the Built Environment. I had always known I wanted to be a Quantity Surveyor from when I had finished my GCSEs as my father is a Senior Quantity Surveyor, which is why I chose to enrol in the part time Quantity Surveying degree course at Ulster University.
How long have you been with Henry Brothers?
I started with Henry Brothers in the last month or two and I am enjoying it every single day. I have learnt a lot more skills than what I ever could imagine. I am constantly learning every day and working with a great bunch of guys but also now two girls in the team!
How did you find out about the job?
The role which I had applied for was advertised on LinkedIn. I have been actively using LinkedIn for several years to stay up to date with the Construction news, especially what the large NI contractors had been up to and what contracts they have been awarded, in particular Henry Brothers.
What do you do here?
Recently I have been tasked with doing take offs from drawings for various projects in particular Waterside Custody Suite in Londonderry. I would take each package and double check the measurements against what I have measured on the drawing compared to what is on the Bill of Quantities. This is my role so far, but I will be on site taking measurements and working alongside my colleague Joe who has taken me under his wing and has been showing me the ropes.
What do you like about your job?
I like that my job is different every single day – I never have two days the same. I am constantly learning every day in my job. I can be office based or site based at any given time which means I get the best of both worlds.
What do you think you’d like to be doing this time next year?
I hope that this time next year I will be on my last stretch of finishing off my degree course and hopefully not too far behind on completing my dissertation. I also hope to have started the process to becoming a Chartered Surveyor. This has always been a passion of mine, as I have been involved in the RICS Matrics Committee for several years.
What do you think you’d be doing if you hadn’t got the job with Henry Brothers?
If I hadn’t get the job with Henry Brothers, I would still not be gaining full job satisfaction and not developing my career to the best of my ability. I would be heading in the wrong direction of where I want to be. If I could give one piece of advise for all the girls out there who want to pursue a career in construction – do it, because you can wear your high heels but also your safety boots!