“Having completed most of my education, I met a Willmott Dixon representative on a course who helped me transition to Kickstart. They have been instrumental in securing everything I needed to be able to qualify.” Reuben Sullivan joined us through Kickstart in September 2021. The Government-backed Kickstart Scheme aims to create new jobs for 16-24-year-olds at risk of long-term unemployment. Below, Reuben tells us about his experience.
“Having been a Jack of all trades before starting and not knowing what area to specialise in, my placement gave me the option to try out any trade. Over five months, Willmott Dixon placed me with a different trade every few weeks, each with mentors and teams of experienced workers, which gave me the chance to narrow down my interest.
“The largest portion of my time was spent out on site with electricians across all different areas including wiring, installation, lighting, power and data. Having enjoyed this trial so much, I decided to do an additional week with the electricians. I was lucky enough to be placed under the care of Briggs and Forrester. Both teams at Willmott Dixon and Briggs and Forrester gave me an immense amount of support and were ready to help me every step of the way.
“During my placement, I attended a review with Willmott Dixon to see how my time could be improved. We came to a decision that my hours would be boosted beyond my regular hours so I could access bigger and more complex jobs. Other improvements included the company providing me with tools, and to enhance my skills further, I would be supported to gain a qualification to safely operate a mobile elevating work platform.
“Coming to the end of the program, I can safely say that I have enjoyed my time here immensely and am so grateful for every opportunity that the teams here have offered me. I’ve gained new skills, confidence, experience and the opportunity to thrive in a supportive and friendly environment.
“To anyone curious about taking a similar journey to me, I’d say there is no better way to kickstart your career than a placement with Willmott Dixon. My favourite part of coming to work is the satisfaction of completing jobs and having the pride of knowing that I’m literally building the future!”
