Hana Hassan

When did you join us?

August 2008

What attracted you to us?

I initially joined Willmott Dixon on a temporary basis – finding out about the position via an employment agency. After graduating in the midst of the recession in 2008, I decided I wanted to travel the world before I succumbed to the inevitable 9 to 5 world of work so to raise the funds to do so, I applied for a temporary position within the Cobham office Pre-Construction Team as an Administrator. From that point onwards, Willmott Dixon has afforded me many opportunities from which I have established a strong career.

First position

Pre-Construction Administrator

Tell us more about your career with us?

When I joined the Business I had very limited knowledge of construction, but within the first month my entire attitude towards the industry changed. I was keen to learn and was especially attracted to the nurturing environment and opportunities available to further my career within Willmott Dixon via the Management Trainee Scheme. After a short ‘work experience’ placement at Epsom Downs Racecourse, my decision was made.

In 2009 I began my 3 year training scheme on the commercial side of the Business with the view of becoming a Surveyor. I was placed at Coulsdon College, a £24.9m redevelopment project with a Senior and Principal Surveyor to teach me and develop my skills. At this point, as my degree was not construction related, Willmott Dixon enrolled me onto a Post Graduate Diploma in Quantity Surveying which took 2 years to complete via day release. Gaining this has enabled me to translate my degree into an RICS accredited qualification which will allow me to become chartered further down the line.

I graduated from the Trainee Scheme in 2012 and took up my new position as Assistant Project Surveyor, working at Broadmoor Hospital under the P21+ Framework. This was a great challenge as I was given far more reasonability and expectations were raised. As an Assistant, I was still provided with the support I needed in order to improve my skills and broaden my knowledge further. At this time, I decided to further my Post Graduate Diploma into a Masters degree, which I completed in the Summer of 2013.

A year later, in July 2014, I was promoted to Project Surveyor and I’m now working on a refurbishment project at St Augustine Academy, Maidstone. This has been my biggest challenge to date; I’m still learning and constantly developing with a strong network of people behind me, providing guidance where needed whilst affording me the space I need to mature in my role.

It hasn’t always been about the day job, Willmott Dixon has offered so much more. From day one as a Management Trainee I was enrolled as a Construction Ambassador with the CITB, a STEM and WISE Ambassador with SATRO Volunteers Club, provided with First Aid training, Health and Safety qualifications, IT training and more, the list goes on!

What do you like about our culture

Having worked with Willmott Dixon for many years, I have witnessed how adaptive the culture is; successfully acclimatising to change both internally and externally (the market conditions) – something which I believe may be the key to the Businesses strength and success in the market.

Willmott Dixon employees operate in a highly nurturing environment; there is a strong drive to develop each employees skills to ensure the workforce is amongst the best in the industry. Employees are respected, empowered and listened to.

Tips for success

• Always take every opportunity afforded to you – it will develop your career, skills, and knowledge
• Acknowledge your weaknesses, break them down and work at them every day to overcome them. Perseverance will ensure you keep moving forward
• Set yourself goals and targets to work towards