As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting young people, we recently caught up with Ivans after he successfully completed his Foundation Apprenticeship placement with us through our KRedit programme. During his time here, he gained valuable experience across a range of departments. This helped to broaden his knowledge and understanding of the construction industry.

Tell me a bit about yourself and what you do at KR Group?

My name is Ivans, and I’m an S5 pupil at St Machar Academy. I’m currently completing a Foundation Apprenticeship, with my placement based at KR Group. I attend my placement once a week while completing the theory side of the qualification at school.

What is a task/department you have enjoyed working in during your time at KR Group?

While working in the steel workshop, I’ve really enjoyed learning more about welding and the machinery involved. It’s been interesting to watch the full process and see how everything comes together. I’ve also liked looking at drawings from past projects completed by KR Group. One that stood out to me was Macduff Aquarium, as the shape of the building and the colour of the cladding made it especially interesting. I also enjoyed going on a site visit to the ongoing works at Aberdeen Beach. Seeing the progress from drawings to the finished work in person was exciting. This gave me a much clearer understanding of what’s involved on site.

What skills do you think are important to have in the workplace?

I think staying focused, having good communication, and being able to work well as part of a team are all really important skills in a professional workplace. I feel I’ve been able to develop these while working at KR Group, and they’re skills that I know will be useful for me in the future as well.

Where do you see yourself in a few years – what kind of job would you like to have?

After school, I’d like to go to university to study architecture. The design side of construction has always interested me, so reviewing the drawings and then watching the team bring them to life on site has been a great experience. This process has helped me understand how designs become real structures.

What have you learned from this experience?

I’ve had the opportunity to work across a variety of departments, collaborating with new people almost every week. In the steel department, I learned about different machines and how they operate. In sheet metal, I learned how flat sheets are folded and formed. I also worked with safety nets, gaining experience in when they’re needed and how to install them. In addition, I learned the basics of welding and how to do it safely. I also learned about HSEQ, which helped me better understand why safety matters in every part of the job.

Louise Holmes, Partnership Officer for St Machar Academy at Aberdeen City Council, commented:

“I would like to thank KR Group for offering Ivans a work placement. It has provided him with valuable, real life experience of what it is like to work in construction and specifically in metalwork and cladding. Work placements allow young people to understand the importance of time keeping, communication skills and teamwork skills. Ivans has enjoyed his placement and now has a better understanding of which area of construction he would like to pursue as a career.”

For more information on our KRedit scheme and current opportunities visit our dedicated KRedit page