We caught up with DMR old boy, Sam C, this week to find out about life after his apprenticeship. Here’s what he had to say…
Name: Sam C
Age: 22
Apprenticeship: Groundwork
Company: Fitfield Ltd
“Since finishing my apprenticeship things have gone really well. I’m still with the same company – Fitfield – but I’ve now got more responsibilities and I’m sometimes tasked with supervising apprentices and new team members myself. After completing my apprenticeship I was able to earn more money too and lead a more comfortable life outside of work. Work itself can be a bit more stressful now than it was when I was an apprentice, with more deadlines to meet. There are no excuses if a job isn’t done properly.
I still really enjoy life as a groundworker. I work with a good bunch of lads: we have a laugh but we also graft hard. I can’t really describe a typical day at work because every day is different. Some of the main tasks of a groundworker include things like flagging, drainage, slab preparation and kerbing. When I first started out in groundwork, I wasn’t sure I’d made the right career choice. It probably took me two months to get used to it but I’m really glad that I stuck at it. I love working outside in summer. And even in winter, I’m getting my daily dose of sunlight when office workers barely see the sun!”
Even though I finished my apprenticeship last year, I’m still learning – you’re always learning onsite – and that’s one of the things I love about construction. You’re always pushing yourself to improve.
My advice to school leavers thinking about getting into construction is: if you like being outdoors, and you like having a bit of craic with the lads while you work, then groundwork is a good career choice. Every day and every job is different and it keeps you fit as well! You’ll need to be willing to graft for your money though.
I remember when I was at school, one of my teachers told me I’d get nowhere. But now I’m earning a decent salary, living a comfortable life and doing a job I really enjoy!
My next goal is to get my excavator ticket and CPCS card. Long term, I think I’d like to run my own groundwork company one day, or use my construction skills and contacts to get into property development. We’ll see how things go.”
