From directing a health and safety film to leading an ‘Open Doors’ event, every day at ISG is different.
James McCulloch, Industrial Placement Trainee, Richmond upon Thames College, Twickenham, UK
James is studying Construction Project Management at Oxford Brookes University, and chose to spend his industrial placement year with #TeamISG.
“I wanted to join an exciting, dynamic and developing global company, so ISG was the obvious choice. As soon as I got here, I was trusted and supported to work independently. I learned a lot very quickly, which has helped to drive my progression.
“Every day at ISG is different. While managing subcontractor packages on site was my main responsibility as a construction manager, I was also responsible for managing subcontractor works, conducting our site’s ‘Open Doors’ event, health and safety and even some film direction and acting!
“Throughout my placement, I worked on a new, state-of-the-art five-storey teaching block for Richmond upon Thames College in Twickenham. I experienced the project from the groundworks stage through to near completion, so I’ve had exposure to all the different trades and sequencing stages of a project."
James is studying Construction Project Management at Oxford Brookes University, and chose to spend his placement year with ISG.
For the entirety of his placement year, James has been based at our Richmond upon Thames College (RuTC) project in the shadow of the ‘home of rugby’, Twickenham. It’s a brand-new state-of-the-art teaching block which will give local students – and residents – access to an enviable collection of facilities – TV studios, a theatre, art gallery, silver service chef’s academy complete with sprawling views of the local area, a spa and wellness centre, sports centre and even a digital golf studio.
It’s not your average teaching facility, and fair to say it hasn’t been an average year for James. From showing young people around Richmond upon Thames College as part of ISG’s involvement in the industry-wide ‘Open Doors’ initiative, to managing subcontractor works, to starring on both sides of the camera as part of ISG's ‘Choose safe. Choose health’ film, James’s experience has never ceased to surprise him.
“I wanted to join an exciting, dynamic and developing global company, so ISG was the obvious choice. As soon as I got here, I was trusted and supported to work independently. I learned a lot very quickly, which has helped to drive my progression.”
James McCulloch, Industrial Placement Trainee
“Every day at ISG is different,” he smiles. “While managing subcontractor packages on site was my main responsibility as a construction manager, I was also responsible for managing subcontractor works, conducting our site’s ‘Open Doors’ event, health and safety and even some film direction and acting!”
It’s what he was looking for from his on-the-job experience.“I wanted to join an exciting, dynamic and developing global company, so ISG was the obvious choice. As soon as I got here, I was trusted and supported to work independently. I learned a lot very quickly, which has helped to drive my progression,” says James.
“I’ve been helping in graduate assessment centres, so it’s nice to give back to those people who are where I was a short time ago.”
James McCulloch, Industrial Placement Trainee
The RuTC project, a £34m redevelopment which will provide students and the local community with an exciting and innovative learning environment, has given James a solid grounding in a variety of areas of construction and has helped him as he considers his next steps.
“I experienced the project from the groundworks stage through to near completion, so I’ve had exposure to all the different trades and sequencing stages of a project,” he says. “I’ve received incredible training and great first-hand experience on site, and it’s also helping me gauge what sort of industry I want to go into, whether it’s engineering, construction management or commercial management.”
James knows what it’s like to start out on a new career and has thrown himself into helping those who are doing the same. Aside from leading an ‘Open Doors’ event at RuTC to take young people and those interested in a construction career through his own experiences, he’s also been making sure he offers the next intake of graduates a helping hand: “I’ve been helping in graduate assessment centres, so it’s nice to give back to those people who are where I was a short time ago.”
He continues: “Being part of #TeamISG is really rewarding for me. The people around me are so supportive and I’m learning from the years of knowledge that they’re sharing with me. Outside work, I’m a keen sportsman and it’s great that ISG recognises my value with its well-being allowance – it contributes towards any sports membership or activity fees you need to pay.”
James is on his way back to university to complete his Construction Project Management course, but his ISG journey has only just begun. “The knowledge, experience and opportunities that I’ve gained over the 12 months have been second to none,” he says. “I’m thoroughly looking forward to returning to ISG once I graduate from university – I would highly recommend the early careers programme to anyone who’s looking to do a placement year in the construction industry.”
