Apprenticeship Talk from Former Student
We were delighted to welcome back former student Harriet Hayley, who delivered an inspiring talk on apprenticeships with Kier Construction, a leading UK construction and infrastructure company.
Harriet shared insights into Kier’s work across a wide range of sectors, including construction, highways, utilities and major national projects such as HS2. Students learned how the company plays a vital role in building and maintaining infrastructure across the UK.
A key message from the session was the huge variety of career opportunities available in construction—over 170 different roles, ranging from engineering and site management to marketing, HR and environmental roles. Harriet highlighted that there is something for everyone, whether students are interested in practical, technical or business-focused careers.
Students also gained a clear understanding of what an apprenticeship involves. Harriet explained that apprenticeships offer:
- A paid, full-time job
- The chance to gain real work experience
- Opportunities to achieve recognised qualifications
- A pathway to develop skills without university debt, while still benefiting from structured training and progression
She outlined different apprenticeship routes within Kier, including business administration, civil engineering, digital roles and construction management, with opportunities to progress into more specialist careers.
Finally, Harriet encouraged students to start preparing early by gaining experience, researching opportunities, building their CVs and using platforms such as the government apprenticeship website and company careers pages.
The talk was a fantastic opportunity for students to hear first-hand about alternative pathways after school and to see how apprenticeships can lead to rewarding and successful careers.
