Emelie Dillane and Victoria Inglis, Apprentice Sustainability Managers, Sir Robert McAlpine

It’s National Apprenticeship Week, and with the theme Skills for Life, it’s important for those wanting to take first steps into the construction industry to understand that full-time study is not the only avenue worth exploring. Working full-time alongside completing a degree apprenticeship not only provides individuals with academic recognition, but transferrable skills that will make a direct route into the industry more streamlined. 

That’s exactly what Emelie Dillane and Victoria Inglis found when they enrolled as Apprentice Sustainability Managers at Sir Robert McAlpine. Currently studying Environmental Science at Kingston University while working on a variety of industry-leading projects, the pair split their time between the classroom and the construction site. With two years left until programme completion, they reflect on their journey into a career in sustainable construction so far and what lies ahead.

 

Emelie Dillane (left) and Victoria Inglis (right)

Routes into construction

Whilst completing their A-Levels, Emelie and Victoria came across the concept of degree apprenticeships with very little previous understanding of what they entailed. 

Tempted by the traditional university route, Victoria was considering studying Economics – that is, until she encountered the Construction Youth Trust. Connecting with the charity, which works to educate and train young people towards better futures in the construction industry, Victoria soon discovered the benefits of pursuing a degree apprenticeship and took the leap with Sir Robert McAlpine.

Emelie knew that she wanted to pursue her passions for both science and design – and coupled with a desire to limit impacts on the environment and world around us, sustainable construction seemed the right fit. But how would this slot in with the typical notion of an academic degree? She realised that through a degree apprenticeship she could gain an understanding of both the scientific elements of sustainable construction and the practical side on-site, leading her to apply for the Sustainability Manager apprentice role at Sir Robert McAlpine.

Delivering results across projects

Fast forward to now, Emelie and Victoria have been working hard, balancing their time between university and work. No strangers to the day-to-day workings of a construction site, Emelie and Victoria are now equipped with the vocational skills that a traditional degree simply could not teach. 

Applying their knowledge of sustainability qualifications and frameworks including BREEAM and ISO14001, the duo has gained a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical and technical requirements needed to prioritise sustainability from a project’s inception to completion. 

London Museum

For Emelie, providing oversight for the London Museum project as part of the wider sustainability team allowed her to develop strong communication skills, a crucial ability that working life hones. As part of her day-to-day role Emelie works with senior sustainability professionals in the team to facilitate conversations between suppliers, contractors, designers and additional stakeholders to ensure that sustainability is considered in every aspect of the build. 

Maintaining strict adherence to environmental regulations, ensuring compliance and supporting innovations in the sustainable construction sector, Emelie is gaining valuable exposure across the board. She recently worked alongside her sustainability lead to help pioneer sustainable concrete materials now being used at London Museum. Even as an apprentice, no role or idea is too small – and Emelie is proud to have worked to bring the idea to life, from pre-start sustainability meetings all the way to when the mixture was first poured on-site.

The Broadgate Framework

Victoria’s work on notable projects, including 1 Broadgate and now 2 Finsbury Avenue, has set her in good stead for a career in sustainability, with her first-hand knowledge of dealing with carbon calculations on the projects complemented by the theoretical work she completed in the classroom. Grasping the mechanisms needed to effectively carry out on-site carbon calculations is no straightforward task, and Victoria will now have an edge against her peers who have opted to solely attend university, with years of experience under her belt by the time she graduates.

On top of this, Sir Robert McAlpine offers on-site education programmes for people at all levels of the company looking to hone their technical skills, so even while at work Victoria was able to develop her abilities in carbon calculations, environmental monitoring and wider skills taught through training and practice. The exposure and opportunity to learn from senior sustainability managers and wider professionals in the field both on the job and as part of her degree is a key aspect of the apprenticeship that Victoria champions. 

 

Social value

Sustainability initiatives with charities and social causes in need have also allowed them both to witness the direct good they are contributing within the industry. Excess materials, under the sustainability team’s oversight, have been salvaged and reused for construction projects within wider communities. For example, donated timber doorframes have been repurposed to build a children’s playground in Stratford, as well as a boat house, built by trainee carpenters, for a homeless couple to live in. 

This idea of giving back extends to sharing their experiences with others, too. Although perceptions are changing, it is still the case that construction is seen as an older generation’s game, particularly suited to men. Role models like Emelie and Victoria can only help cast the net out wider, showing young people that construction is now inclusive and receptive to people from all backgrounds, genders and age groups. In fact, Victoria, who was initially inspired by her conversations with the Construction Youth Trust, regularly attends events and school visits hoping to shift perceptions that surround working in construction. 

Boosting the construction workforce

Emelie and Victoria’s contributions to the construction workforce are undoubtedly welcomed. With new governmental skills initiatives put in place to address the decline in young people working within the construction industry – including the creation of 13,000 apprenticeship and T Level opportunities – the pair are proud to be on the forefront of the next generation in construction. After all, it’s no secret that if we are to meet much-needed building targets, we need all hands on deck. 

As sustainability becomes an increasingly key part of the construction process, the demand for Sustainability Managers is only set to grow. Integrating responsible sustainable and environmental practices at every stage in a build project is no longer a nice-to-have, but an expectation. 

National Apprenticeship Week shines a spotlight on this part of the construction industry. To meet building targets and promote economic growth, reducing the skills deficit has been identified as crucial. Apprenticeship programmes make gaining these skills accessible and attainable and alongside wider industry efforts will hopefully inspire a new, inclusive generation of the construction workforce.