No wrong path: Colin, from agency labourer to Assistant General Foreman

Our 'No wrong path’ stories support the Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) campaign for young people who may feel disheartened by their exam results or aren’t sure what their next step after school should be. Colleagues from across Team Robertson who were in that same position share their experiences of leaving school and getting to where they are now – and show that there’s no right or wrong path.

As someone who struggled in the classroom, Colin explains how choosing the trade route has seen him progress from labourer to assistant general foreman in his six years with Robertson.

Tell us about leaving school: 

I left school aged 16 and went straight to college to do a built environment course. I’d always struggled with classroom learning but with both my dad and brother working in construction the course interested me. I passed the assessments which gave me the option to focus on civil engineering, architecture or site management. I chose civil engineering but, six months in, knew I’d picked the wrong one and dropped out with no plan.

What was next?  

I signed up to an employment agency and did some labouring. It’s not glamourous work but I enjoy being on a construction site. A year and a half later, I found myself working on a Robertson project. I took every shift I could and made it known to the project team I was looking for a permanent job. Robertson took me to their next site – still through the agency – and shortly after employed me directly as a labourer.

I was keen for progression so started site supervisor safety training which earned me a supervisor’s black hard hat. With that completed I was ready for the next thing, but needed more experience under my belt first. Three years later I went on to do a site management safety course.

You didn’t stop there: 

No, my immediate thought was 'what now?' So I did a NVQ Level 3 in Site Supervision and although I had a year to do it at my own pace, finished it in four months. Up until then I’d had a green labourer’s card to get on site, but the NVQ gave me a gold card which qualifies me to supervise construction work and manage teams. Now I’m 60% through a Diploma in Construction Site Management. 

What's your role now? 

I’m an assistant general foreman, a stepping stone to management. I still do some physical work but also carry out risk assessments, daily briefings and inductions amongst other things. For me it’s the perfect mix, being physical on site and working in the office.

What do you enjoy about working at Robertson? 

The opportunities – I thought being an agency labourer would set me back, but Robertson proved me wrong on that. If you’re enthusiastic about what you’re doing and willing to work hard, the possibilities open up. In six years I’ve gone from agency labourer to assistant general foreman and am on my way to assistant site manager. When it comes to learning and development, the ball is in my court and I’m not going to stop.

What advice have you got for anyone receiving their grades today or who isn’t sure about their next step after school? 

It’s nice having good grades but it’s not everything – keep working hard and you can get to where you want to be without them. You’ll find another path, even if it’s not the most direct.