We are highlighting another fantastic student, Hamish, who has been completing a 12-week construction work experience programme with us. Hamish has worked across the company in our workshops and yard based in Newburgh, Aberdeenshire.

Tell me a bit about yourself and what you’ve been doing at KR Group

My name is Hamish and I am a 16 year old pupil at Ellon Academy. I have been working 1 day a week as part of my work experience placement with KR Group. I have been working with the sheet metal and steel workshops learning new skills and understanding how everything works.

What is something that surprised you about the construction industry?

I was surprised at the size of the equipment in the workshops. Obviously there are huge pieces of steel but I didn’t realise how big the machinery used actually was as well as the size of the projects KR Group have been a part of. The Aberdeen Beach project and Aberdeen Market have been interesting to see the progress of. There is a huge amount of work that goes on behind the scenes which I didn’t expect! It is a team effort from all parts of the business for each project.

What is a task you have particularly enjoyed when you’ve been in the workshop?

A project I enjoyed working on was the red louvres for an offshore client. I helped the team by putting mesh on the back of the red aluminium louvres using pop rivets, making sure they were all in the right place and held the mesh tight. I also cleaned off all the swarf and stacked them neatly on a pallet with protection between each layer, then banded and wrapped them so they were ready to be sent to the customer.

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

I would like to work in an environment like KR Group with a hands-on job. I would like to have completed a modern apprenticeship/trainee qualification. Being able to continue sports is a big one for me so having a good work-life balance is important too.

What have you learned from this experience?

I’ve learned and developed a lot of new skills that will help me in a professional work environment. I now have a better understanding of the standards needed when working in a workshop and in the construction industry, which is really important. This placement has also helped me prepare for the future by giving me new skills and experience that I can add to my CV, which will be good to talk about in interviews.

Allan Menzies, Sheet Metal Workshop Supervisor at KR Group, commented:

“Hamish consistently showed a strong willingness to learn and was confident in asking questions. He communicated clearly with the team and demonstrated a solid work ethic each week. Thank you for all your help, Hamish!“

Visit our Apprenticeships and Traineeships – KR Group page where you can find out about our current apprenticeship and traineeship vacancies.