Ahead of National Careers Week, a budding trainee housebuilder from Bristol has shared his experience and advice for future generations.
21-year-old Archie Brook is currently undertaking a degree undergraduate placement at Redrow South West, enabling him to get a hands-on experience in the housebuilding industry.
Archie is completing a BSc Degree in Construction Management from Liverpool John Moores University alongside working with Redrow teams across all areas of the business, including construction, customer service and health and safety on-site.
Archie said: “My dad works in the construction industry, so growing up I was always inspired and motivated by what he does. When I left college, I didn’t know exactly which route to take so applied for Redrow’s degree undergraduate and it’s been everything I could have hoped for. Rotating through all of the departments is allowing me to get a feel for all the different areas of housebuilding and a better understanding of the process!”
Joining Redrow in September 2022, Archie is halfway through the programme and has completed five rotations so far – working alongside the teams in land and planning, construction, commercial, buying, and technical.
Sharing his experience, Archie said: “I only have one rotation left to complete before I pick which one I would like to specialise in, which is incredibly exciting. As I rotate between departments every 3-4 months, every day is a new challenge and I’m constantly learning something new and interesting – there’s always so much to get involved with!
Currently in his penultimate rotation, Archie is working in the sales department shadowing one of Redrow South West’s area sales managers. Day-to-day, Archie’s current role includes building relationships with the sales consultants on site and learning about the process once a home is reserved.
Sharing his advice for others interested in a career in housebuilding, Archie said: “I couldn’t recommend this graduate scheme more – it’s a fantastic way to gain real-world experience and professional development. There are so many departments to try, so it’s wonderful if you’re not sure which is for you.
“Juggling a full-time job whilst studying towards a degree can be tricky – you need to be structured and committed to the end result, because it will be worth it.
“I’m looking forward to continuing my career in the property sector and hopefully working my way up to a leadership role using the skills I’m learning now – I’d love to give something back and help others embark on a similar career path to myself!”
Sian Smith, Sales Director for Redrow South West, said: “Here at Redrow South West, we have an ongoing commitment to support and nurture the next generation of talent.
“The undergraduate degree is a fantastic opportunity to get an in-depth insight into the whole lifecycle of housebuilding, from planning right through to completing a sale – we’re thrilled to have Archie with us and to be watching him flourish.”
