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A Day in the Life of Bronte and Kiarra, Trainee Quantity Surveyors
Our next ‘Day in the Life’ focuses on two of our Trainee Quantity Surveyors, Kiarra Hulme and Bronte Polvani. Kiarra and Bronte have been with Connolly’s for just over 6 months and are part of our group of trainees currently undertaking their studies at university one day a week.
Welcome to our next instalment of our ‘Day in the Life of’. A series of interviews with our people here at Connolly’s, providing insight into our day to day activities and our people.
Hi girls, thank you for talking to us. As usual, our first question is to go back and ask for you to give us a brief insight into your career path which has led you to the position you’re today? We imagine that your career paths are quite similar.
Kiarra
I only really realised I wanted a job in the construction industry when I was in sixth form. At the time I wasn’t too sure what jobs there was in the industry, so after speaking to my careers advisor and her highlighting a few different options I decided on a Quantity Surveyor as this sounded the most appealing to me. From there I applied to university and then completed Salford University full time for two years until I got a job at Connolly’s where I now do my studies part time and balance the one day a week at university with my job.
Bronte
After a year at college completing my HNC, Connolly’s was my first real step into the construction industry. I initially enquired about an RLO position, but after quick chat with Liam and Andrea, we soon realised this was not the path for me. They recognised that I was more suited to Quantity Surveying and offered me the trainee role, which I was delighted with.
Can you both tell us are there any moments in your career, past or present, that stand out to you so far?
Kiarra
As I’ve only been at Connolly’s for 6 months the biggest moment in my career path is being offered the position of a Trainee QS. With my Dad doing previous work with Connolly’s, I already had the knowledge of what work Connolly’s do and what a great company they are and the opportunities that would come from this, from building on my current knowledge and experience, to building relationships with fellow colleagues.
Bronte
Same for me really. The greatest moment was actually starting at Connolly’s. After hearing such good things about them from others who have worked with them previously, I knew this was a proud achievement. It was great to be in a real construction environment as opposed to the virtual world of college (during COVID). Being surrounded by professionals, being exposed to meetings, conversations and terminology is invaluable. Despite being such a novice, the training programme at Connolly’s is so robust and well devised, Jonathan Mayoh (Senior Project Manager) got me on the phone, on site and dealing with my own cases within weeks. I have now been tasked with the responsibility of setting up and seeing through my own little project that will be great learning experience and perhaps give me confidence in my own abilities in the future.
What kind of skills do you need to be effective in your role?
Bronte
Within this role, I quickly realised that a great eye for detail is key. Whether it’s checking over measured work spreadsheets from sub-contractors or developing representative valuations for the client, precision is crucial. Organisation is also important. With several activities to complete at once, the ability to prioritise and manage tasks to meet deadlines is essential. My role also depends on liaising with sub-contractors, clients, the site team, as well as people in the office and so communication skills are key.
Kiarra
I agree with Bronte, organisation is a massive part of being a QS and the more organised you are earlier on – the smoother the programme runs. With being organised this helps to always stay one step ahead!
Communication is crucial as a QS from the inception of a project to completion – and with communication comes good listening skills, as this is valuable in making sure all aspects of the contract are understood between yourself and the client and anything that is yet to be agreed. Communication is also a day-to-day aspect of being a QS between site managers, RLO’s, and on-site workforce. Within Communication skills, a QS needs to have negotiations skills, as when problems arise, a QS needs to be able to come up with a profitable solution that is agreed by all parties, and this can be communicated across with ease.
Can you tell us about a typical working day for you both?
Kiarra
My days can really vary but usually if I was to start out in the office, first thing I usually do is reply and deal with any emails I’ve received. My typical workday can also usually consist of site visits which means having a catch up with the onsite team, and then visiting properties which are currently undergoing work, and them measuring up work that’s being done.
Bronte
I feel it is quite hard to determine a ‘typical working day’ in my role at the moment, especially working alongside Jonathan Mayoh! With active projects underway and 4 new projects starting up, my days are filled with both office days and site visits. Measuring and checking works, meeting clients/sub-contractors, surveying new properties for projects starting up, and establishing the site set-up with the Site Manager are all aspects of the tasks I complete within a working week. I always make sure I end the day by making to-do lists for the following day to organise my workload and to feel ahead of the game. The office day/site day balance is a great positive for me and I really do love the diversity of my role.
Where do you see Connolly Ltd in 5 years?
Bronte
It was not until the Management Meeting Connolly’s held at the end of 2021 when I realised how much they had grown and achieved as a company. Considering the short time it took to get to this stage; in 5 years’ time, it is likely that the company will have expanded more so through its culture, investments, employees and clientele.
Kiarra
I see Connolly’s continuing with the expansion in the work force we have, to match the continuing growth of the projects we are winning. I also see the range of the type of construction we do increasing, taking on different work alongside the current work we tender for.
Can you tell us about the hardest moment in your career and how you overcame it?
Bronte
My toughest decision through sixth form and throughout my HNC was whether to go to university or not. I knew I wanted to have a career in the construction industry and study further but never wanted university alone. I wanted experience but I knew to further my career, I would have to narrow my options. After my initial chat with the team, they offered me an opportunity to progress within my role through university which was the perfect solution for me. Their experience and guidance during my recruitment shows how invested Connolly’s is in the progression of their employees. I am able to gain valuable experience working in the commercial environment as well as studying alongside colleagues taking the same route.
Kiarra
To be totally honest, the toughest day so far in regard to work is the mornings when its been snowy and it feels like I’m never going to make it to the office! Driving in the worst weather isn’t my favourite but everyone’s really understanding if it means there might be a bit of a delay getting to work!
Connolly Culture is at the heart of the business – can you describe what the culture means to you?
Kiarra
When first joining Connolly’s everyone makes an effort to make you feel comfortable – which is probably what happens at most places, but the difference is this has never worn off! The atmosphere of the office is always warming, so even on days where you are busy in the office, this makes it easier. The culture is ultimately a massive aspect of why I enjoy my job so much and I’m so grateful for this.
Bronte
Connolly’s really is a place where any problem can be shared. There is always someone to assist with work or personal issues which makes it a supportive place to work. This is fundamentally a family company with family values and this is shown in the quality relationships Connolly as a company has made with sub-contractors and clients over the years, which are built on mutual integrity and respect.
What do you believe is the greatest thing that Connolly Ltd has achieved so far?
Kiarra
A massive achievement for Connolly’s and something that makes them stand out to me from any other company, is how fast the company has grown, with increasing numbers and workload, whilst maintaining the family atmosphere. Despite the company expanding at such a fast rate, Connolly’s still manage to make you feel valued and appreciated.
Bronte
Aside to the awards and growth of the company, during my 6 months of working at Connolly’s, the greatest achievement I have witnessed has to be the people – colleagues from all work backgrounds, full of knowledge – you can see that Connolly’s invest in their employees. Everyone within the company is so approachable and welcoming you could be talking to an operative, a manager or a director. This is a great achievement for the company.
Do you have any advice for people who want to work in the Construction industry?
Kiarra
For anyone considering going into the construction industry I would completely encourage, any jobs within this all have many opportunities, which all come with their own benefits, and due to the ongoing demand for work, you’ll never be short of it!
Bronte
Although I am just beginning my journey into construction world, the once piece of advice I would give would be to jump straight in and gain as much experience as possible. Jonathan Mayoh has been brilliant in allowing me to try everything and his trust in my ability helps build my confidence. There are so many tasks and development paths, yet my roles and duties are really varied. Working in both the office and on site and being exposed to the different areas of the industry is great. The more experience you get, the more you learn.
What do you love most about your job?
Kiarra
My favourite part about my job – and a big reason why I wanted to become a quantity surveyor is because of the flexibility in how you can work, my job relies on me visiting various sites meaning I’m never stuck in the office and no day is the same!
Bronte
I love how one day I can be sat at my desk completing handovers for the client, and the next be on the rooftop of a flat block in the centre of Leeds! The diversity of my role seems to be forever expanding. Looking back to the first couple weeks starting at Connolly’s in comparison to now, I cannot believe the opportunities I have had so far.
Finally, if there was one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Kiarra
To be confident in your own ability and don’t be afraid to get things wrong – when joining Connolly’s, I had little experience in the construction industry and soon realised the more questions you ask, the more knowledge you’ll gain, and don’t be afraid to sound stupid, as in reality everyone is still learning and gaining knowledge.
Bronte
Definitely ask more questions early on! Whether they are questions about technical knowledge or questions about basic knowledge, there is always so much more to learn.