Teal Scaffold share their careers stories
During National Scaffolding Week we want to share information about the diverse range of careers available in the sector in hopes of inspiring a new generation to take up a role within the industry. We asked members of Teal Scaffold to tell us what they love about working in the scaffolding sector and what they would tell someone thinking about embarking on a career in scaffolding.
What you will notice from the accounts of all these people is that they’re all so diverse - men and women with different skill sets, yet they have all found something that they thoroughly love by working within the scaffolding and access sector.
Dan McGregor, Head of Operations, stated when asked what he enjoyed most about his role;
“The diverse groups of people that liaise with on a daily basis which make my role really enjoyable. However, there are two key stand-out points that really make my role fulfilling. The first is the completion of a high-profile project and receiving great feedback from our clients. The second is creating opportunities for personal growth for everyone in our team; seeing individuals changing their lives for the better and knowing that I have contributed in some way to this.”
When asked what advice Dan would give to someone thinking about a career in scaffolding Dan commented “This is a tough industry and you need to be resilient but also willing to learn.”
Traditionally the sector has looked to recruit school or college leavers but there is a much wider pool of talent looking to switch industries who have a whole host of transferable skills and experience. Claire Seddon, Administrator, joined Teal Scaffold with over 20 years of experience as an administrator and knew she could take the skills and knowledge she had previously learnt and apply it to a role within a scaffolding company. When asked about her role, Claire commented;
“I was looking for a new challenge and so I applied for the position as I have over years of administration experience and have numerous transferable skills I am able to use in my role.”
Not only does the sector need to recruit, but it also needs to retain. Retention of staff is just as, if not more important, as bringing in new talent. By retaining the right people, the sector ensures its longevity and continued success. In order to keep the right people, companies and training providers must offer up development opportunities for existing staff so that ambitious and forward-thinking individuals can hone their skills and carve out their own rewarding careers. Freddie Lambert, Scaffold Manager, says of his career “ I have worked in the scaffolding industry for 40 years for many firms, on many sites, learning al the time. I then started at Teal Scaffold as an Advanced Scaffolder, then a Supervisor and now as a Manager.”
When asked what he enjoys most about his role job, Freddie replied “The best part of my job is showing new scaffolders how to progress within the industry.”
This is just a small selection of feedback we had from those already working in the sector - we could have written much much more. What is clear from all the responses we had is that the scaffolding sector is a welcoming, friendly and diverse sector to work in and offers a rewarding career for those that are willing to learn.
Find out more about Teal Scaffold: www.sovini.co.uk/teal
