BUILD THE FUTURE – Ben’s Journey to building a career in construction

“Gaining the opportunity to become an Apprentice with Overbury has defined my career pathway and means I get to work with the best people in construction. I fell in love with working on site and this Apprenticeship gives me the chance to learn and practice whilst developing a network of people on the journey to becoming a future Project Manager."

Ben Harris, 21 from Wolverhampton, is creating a career pathway in construction with a part-time Construction Management Degree Apprenticeship at the University of Wolverhampton, funded by his employer, Overbury, through the Apprenticeship Levy.

The Apprenticeship is a 4 year course including initially completing a Higher National Diploma (HND) allowing Ben to gain both an educational management overview from an academic perspective combined with the practical technical expertise on site – literally taking the classroom into immediate practice. Ben is in his third year.

In his role, he is working as trainee Project Manager alongside Overbury’s Project Manager, Ben Cox, for the University’s own £5 million investment project, the Marches Centre of Health Excellence, based at its Telford Campus Overbury is delivering a world-class interior refurbishment of teaching and learning facilities for the UK’s future keyworkers.

Ben works on site as part of the team, meeting with sub-contractors and suppliers across mechanical, electrical, joinery, furniture and technology integration, as well as learning to manage the company’s robust health, safety and practices.

Ben completed his GCSEs and was looking to become an architect, searching and applying to local colleges for relevant courses He accepted an offer from a construction college in Wolverhampton and began studying A Levels in Maths, Construction and Product Design. Within the first year an opportunity came up to attend an Overbury talk on its ‘Foundation Programme’ and went along  thinking that this could be his pathway within design. He was offered a place for two weeks’ work experience on site – and loved every minute.