Class of 2023 | Finn Gregory

"I enjoyed the independence of living away from home for what will be 15 months and everything else that brings with it."

In June 2023, Finn embarked on an exciting new chapter, relocating from Cullaville, County Armagh, to London to join McAleer & Rushe as a Placement Site Engineer. With a strong interest in construction, Finn chose to study BSc (Hons) in Construction Engineering and Management at Ulster University in Belfast, where he availed of the opportunity to gain invaluable industry experience through a year-long placement.

Discover Finn's journey as he reflects on his placement year, working on our landmark projects in London ????.

An Insight into the Role

"My responsibilities have been quite different on the two sites I worked on in London. At Mount Pleasant Phase 4 , setting out concrete frames was my main responsibility. Since moving to a new site, my responsibilities have broadened. Here, I oversee excavations, steel checks, foundation construction and drainage daily on my block."

"I really enjoyed the work and being exposed to how a proper site works and all the people that I met throughout the period. I enjoyed the independence of living away from home for what will be 15 months and everything else that brings with it."

Opportunities to Strengthen Skills

"The most important skill that I have nurtured this year is my communication. Through working with many different trades, I found that by having clear communication and treating people with respect, problems could quickly be resolved, and this really benefitted my confidence, especially in the early weeks."

CPD Training Sessions

"Out of all of the many valuable CPD training sessions led by Kevin Hughes throughout the year, my favourite featured jump form, a method of construction that I hadn't encountered at both of the sites I worked on."

Personal Mentor

"Having a mentor was great. It eased the nerves I had about potentially being 'thrown in at the deep end'. No question was stupid and all concerns were listened to. I could not have asked for anything more from my mentors."

We were delighted to support Finn during his placement year and are excited to welcome him back as a graduate. As he returns to university in September for his final year, we wish him the very best in his studies and look forward to his continued success!

At McAleer & Rushe, we believe the best way to develop is with practical experience, that's why we offer on-the-job learning, a workplace mentor, CPD's and structured training specifically tailored to give you the best training experience available within the industry.

If you or anyone you know is interested in learning more about our Graduate, Placement and Apprenticeship Programmes, please visit our website.