10 February 2025
The Real Life Apprentice - You Are Hired!
Julie White - MD D-Drill
Anyone who knows me, knows I’m passionate about two things! The wonderful world of construction – and bringing through the next generation of workers.
Construction and the very niche industry of diamond drilling and concrete sawing have been part of my life from since I can remember as my dad, Peter, ran D-Drill for many years having started the business in 1967 before I bought the company in 2008.
I think that’s why it’s so embedded in my life.
Yes, D-Drill is my business but the reason it gets me out of bed every day is I know what we are doing has a positive impact on the world. Without construction, there’d be no houses, hospitals, roads or schools. No offices, factories, shopping centres or warehouses. Come to think of it, there wouldn’t be much at all.
That is why I have thrown myself into supporting the industry and speaking out for it whenever I can and, hence, why I am so proud to be chair of Build UK during its tenth anniversary year. Build UK is the largest trade body for the whole industry, covering tier one contractors through to associations covering individual, specialist trades within the sector.
One of the biggest issues that has been identified across construction is the need for more people to come into the industry – 50,000 new entrants a year, in fact.
That is why Build UK is staging Open Doors – where sites and places of work open up to the public – from March 17 to March 22.
I’ll be going around the country to see what’s happening and to meet people in the industry and to explain to visitors why construction is such a great career choice. Last year’s was a real success and we’re intending to smash through the number of sites and visitors for #OpenDoors25
Before that, I’ve decided to pursue some great stories of my own by talking to apprentices at different stages of their career in the industry in a new series called: The Real Life Apprentice – You Are Hired! I’ll be chatting to some of D-Drill’s own apprentices but also hearing from people at other companies in the industry to find out why they decided this was the path they wanted to take, how they are finding it and what their aspirations are for the future.
So, in the next few weeks look out for some great stories and let them inspire you or someone you know to become an apprentice in construction! And, there’s no better time to launch it than during Apprenticeship Week, so please enjoy!
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