Pre-Cast Story:
Growing up, my dad was involved in property development and investment and always made an effort to expose me to the industry and business in general. It was this exposure that sparked my interest in economics, which I studied at A-Level alongside Maths, Physics, and Computer Science, and studied for my undergraduate degree at the University of Kent. During my time at university, my interest in construction and real estate increased, firstly from an architectural perspective and then more so the process required to construct a building in full, from inception to completion. Upon completing my degree, I worked with my dad for an investment firm within their real estate arm and quickly developed a desire to remain within the industry. The main draw to the construction and real estate industry for me is the tangibility of the end-product; throughout the whole process you can see the impacts of decisions and watch those physically develop. Being able to see a building and say “I was part of that” is very rewarding, and I think quite difficult to replicate in other industries.
Why Cast?
From studying Computer Science at A-Levels I have a keen interest in technology and innovation. Cast are the market-leaders when it comes to pushing new techniques, processes, and technologies in the industry and so for me felt like the perfect place to combine my love of construction with my love for technology. Being part of a company that is very much on the forefront of innovation in the market only proves to add more excitement and motivation to the work I do, and the work I would like to do in the future.
Current Role:
I am currently an Assistant Project Manager at Cast. This involves assisting the senior project managers on day-to-day tasks and taking ownership of some workstreams where applicable. At this current time, I am working on two student accommodation schemes in Guildford and Nottingham. I have also worked on projects utilising Modern Methods of Construction on two modular housing schemes in Kent and have assisted on a later-living scheme in Uxbridge. In terms of duties, I have had the opportunity to assist on many different types of tasks which have really benefited my understanding of the industry and processes behind it. Examples would be leading the invoicing process and tracking of fees for project consultants, assisting in producing programmes, and producing documents for, and assisting in, the procurement of new consultants. My Economics degree has given me the confidence to deal with large swathes of numbers and the experience of learning new processes and concepts. It has also given me an appreciation for the macro side of the industry, specifically external factors that can have significant effects on construction but are not directly related to the construction industry itself.
My Academic and Professional Learning Pathway:
To further develop my understanding of the construction industry, I am completing a part-time MSc in Construction Economics and Management at UCL over two years. This degree is helping to provide a deeper view of the industry and how it functions as a whole, looking at technological innovations such as machine learning, and the cyclical nature of the construction and real estate industry. Combining a masters with full-time work has been a challenging experience due to the time commitments involved in both, but has also forced me to improve my time-management skills and to learn how to use my time more effectively which I think will really help me in my career going forward. Cast also provide ample opportunities to learn through ‘Cast Forums’, which is an opportunity for colleagues or external speakers to present to the company on topics such as regulation changes and best practices. The Forums that I have found most useful are ones presented by ‘Knowledge Champions’; people within the business who are experts on particular parts of the industry. These have really helped me to improve my technical knowledge of construction, something that I did not have much of prior to joining to Cast. I have also found over my time at Cast that everyone is very willing to answer questions and point people in the direction of useful resources – there is a very friendly and collaborative atmosphere that has made me feel very comfortable to learn without fear of judgement.
My Ambitions:
My future ambitions are to graduate from my MSc course in 2022, and then to start the Project Management pathway for RICS accreditation. I hope to get promoted over the next two years as I gain more experience and develop my technical knowledge of the industry, as well knowledge around contracts and processes. Modern Methods of Construction remains very interesting and exciting for me, so I hope to continue my involvement on such projects, and would also like to improve my knowledge and experience around sustainability in the industry, whether that be through design, work practices, or regulations and legislations. I believe construction has an undeniable opportunity to have real positive impacts on the environment and society, and look forward to being able to contribute to that in the future.
Why build a career at Cast?
Cast for me provides a very strong foundation from which to forge a career in the construction industry. There is a wide variety of project types to work on, all at different stages, that provide a great way to expose oneself to the industry and all it can offer. Joining Cast without a construction degree has been challenging due to the steep learning curve, but has also being rewarding in that I have been allowed to utilise my skillset in a way that benefits myself and the business. I have always felt comfortable asking questions, and always felt confident that my opinion and contribution is valued as much as anyone else’s in the company. I get to work with some of the very best the industry has to offer in terms of project managers and quantity surveyors, and I am always given the opportunity and encouragement to stretch myself and challenge myself. The key things I looked for when job-searching was somewhere where I would be given the opportunity to learn and be exposed to a large number of different project types, while working with best people that I possibly could – Cast provides all of these in abundance.
