BA (Hons) Business Studies,
University of Central Lancashire
The facilities management arm of Balfour Beatty was awarded a contract at the end of 2007 by British Energy to manage a portfolio of eight nuclear power stations and two office complexes, located around Scotland and England. We are currently in the process of mobilising these power stations to fit in with our operations. My role, as graduate trainee, is to assist with the mobilisation of two of these sites, to ensure a smooth transition from the previous working practices to those used by Balfour Beatty. It’s a seven-year contract, worth around £350 million and it’s great to be involved.
This is a massive learning process for myself. There is a lot of training available on site and I’ve been involved in some quite intensive courses in order to get the processes right. I’m really enjoying the role; every day’s different and I enjoy the fast-paced nature of the business.
The company’s given me the opportunity to develop and learn through a structured training programme. I get plenty of support from my peers and a dedicated personal mentor to guide me through the scheme. I’ve been given responsibility from day one and, within two months of joining the company, I worked with the team to manage BT Stadium House in Cardiff, which is a flagship building within the BT fleet.
When applying for a job I researched a lot of companies but Balfour Beatty really stood out from the rest. The whole interview and selection process was very thorough and professional. And by having the opportunity to meet other graduates I got a good feel for the company and felt part of the team from day one.
But most important of all, the graduate scheme provides a solid foundation for a successful career within the industry by providing interesting placements and development opportunities. I feel I’ve made a massive contribution to the working lives of the people whom I’ve worked with. I’ve taken fresh approaches to existing practices and implemented change. I’ve been asked to stay on at both placements to continue the work that I’ve been doing, but in both instances I decided to move on to another placement. There’s still the chance that I could return though, that’s the beauty of the scheme; you get a variety of placements and build up a great network so, once the scheme has finished, you can make an informed decision about your future role within the business.
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