Senior Quantity Surveyor, Isabelle Hewitt, joined Esh in 2016 as an apprentice, working within our civil engineering division on projects for Northumbrian Water Group.
Over the years, she has contributed to a wide range of schemes including wastewater and freshwater networks, mechanical and electrical, reservoir projects and large-scale earthworks. Four promotions and a completed Degree Apprenticeship later, Isabelle is passionate about championing construction as a career path for young people.
Here’s what she had to say.
There is a significant generational skills gap within the industry, which creates a fantastic opportunity for young people or anyone with the drive to build a career in construction.
I didn’t plan on working in this industry when I finished my GCSE’s. Following a change of plans from A-Levels to a college course, I chose the world of construction because I enjoyed maths and engineering. I didn’t want a role that was 100% office based, so quantity surveying felt like the right fit.
With innovation and progression at the heart of what we do, the perceptions of construction being an ‘old school’ male dominated industry are changing rapidly.
My advice to anyone starting out is simple: work hard and stay open to learning. If you do, opportunities will come your way. That’s been my approach, and I’ve seen first-hand the impact an apprenticeship can have when you’re with Esh.
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