Thomas Smith

Why don’t well paid people want to live in Coventry? This started as a discussion with another 'Gary' I met on holiday recently (He lived in Coventry). When examining salary rates in local areas, I have noticed that the highest paid people work in Coventry. However, I also observed that those who live in Coventry are not as well paid. This discrepancy intrigued me, so I compared it to other areas I know. Coventry exhibits the largest gap between employment and residence salaries. So, what's going on? Digging deeper, I looked at the gender pay gap for full-time workers. Nationally, the pay gap is 13.7%, but in Coventry, it widens significantly to 24.5%. Unemployment in Coventry stands at 5.8%, which is high but still lower than Birmingham's 7.2%. There seem to be no other obvious factors at play. The figures suggest that high-paid workers commute into Coventry, while residents either work locally in low-paid jobs or commute out for similarly low-paid positions. So, what’s wrong with Coventry?

1

“Our people can explore a smorgasbord of roles... and a myriad of opportunities to supercharge [their] careers.” ✨ In his blog my colleague Ashley shares what he values in the team-orientated culture here at AtkinsRéalis. Read Ashley’ story and check out vacancies in the team 🤝 #InsideAtkinsRéalis #EngineeringBetter

5

More moves than Michael Jackson… 🎤 We only want to hire people with ‘stable CVs’. Well - how ‘stable’ is 'stable' really…. I think the average employment tenure for someone in civils/groundworks is around 3 – 5 years… Not 10 or 15 years.... It’s also fair to say it’s been an ‘interesting’ time in last 10 years or so in the industry…Covid, cost of living crisis and companies going under. MANY good people have been affected by situations which are no fault of their own. If you’ve been fortunate enough to stay with a company over a long period of time – well done to you. But I’d encourage you not to judge others who may not have been as lucky too harshly… Yes - if someone’s had 10 jobs in 10 years it probably says something about them. But if someone has moved jobs it’s always worth exploring the reasons why… Sometimes it’s not their fault and might be for reasons totally out of their control… And it doesn't necessarily have a bearing on how good they could be for you.

4

Great news. Last week another two (2) New Graduates secured work in Civil and Mechanical Engineering. Both International and both without PR and both with Minimal or no experience. One in (1) Civil taking 4 months and the Mechanical Graduates taking the better part of 12 months, due to family issues etc that arise averaged out probably close to 6 months. I can say there seems to be some more interest in hiring recently than in April and May, I suspect it's due to the end of the financial year combined with Projects getting the nod to proceed. Details to follow after they start in their respective roles in the coming weeks. All the best and have a great week ahead If you want to secure full-time work, just remember: A + B + C. Looking forward to hearing from you :) A. Connect with me on LinkedIn. B. Book a FREE 30-minute Coaching Call if you want to discuss how I can help you. C. https://lnkd.in/gbVzm3mG #MasterOfProjectManagement #MasterOfConstructionManagement #MasterOfRenewableEnergy #GraduateEngineers #MasterOfProfessionalEngineering #ChangingCareers

13

Request from University of Bradford for employer support with their MSc in Construction and Project Management. Can you support with any of the following?   Case studies: Examples of previous project(s) which consider any of the following (this list is not conclusive): integrating sustainable practices in the feasibility, design and construction of projects creating UNSDGs in the project contractual issues and how they were resolved. human management issues on site how they were resolved. experiences and challenges faced in NEC 4  stakeholder analysis procedure, etc   Site visits: Site visits in the construction industry are always welcomed.   Guest Lectures: Can you help engage the students by delivering case studies through guest lectures? If you can help please let me know and I will introduce you to the course tutor. Mostafa Mohamed PhD, CEng, FICE, FHEA; Bernard Tuffour Atuahene;Saskia Lear; University of Bradford

24

5 Comments

Good morning all and I hope you are all well . As you can see I’m still hospitalised until Monday when I have my surgery 😀. What an eye opener it is and how very lucky we are to have the NHS . How the staff put up with some folk is commendable. Todays reading is ( Keeping Recovery Fresh ) Well believe me , my recovery has grown whilst being in here . I’ve had to work my programme more than ever . 1 thing I cannot do is get complacent. Whilst I’ve been laid up I’ve connected with other patients sharing my story and listening to there’s . Recovery comes first and if I stick with recovery I will continue to get well Love and respect to all 🙏❤️💪 Jay June 29 Keeping recovery fresh Complacency is the enemy of members with substantial clean time. If we remain complacent for long, the recovery process ceases. Basic Text, p. 84 = After the first couple of years in recovery, most of us start to feel like there are no more big deals. If weve been diligent in working the steps, the past is largely resolved and we have a solid foundation on which to build our future. Weve learned to take life pretty much as it comes. Familiarity with the steps allows us to resolve problems almost as quickly as they arise. Once we discover this level of comfort, we may tend to treat it as a rest stop on the recovery path. Doing so, however, discounts the nature of our disease. Addiction is patient, subtle, progressive, and incurable. Its also fatalwe can die from this disease, unless we continue to treat it. And the treatment for addiction is a vital, ongoing program of recovery. The Twelve Steps are a process, a path we take to stay a step ahead of our disease. Meetings, sponsorship, service, and the steps always remain essential to ongoing recovery. Though we may practice our program somewhat differently with five years clean than with five months, this doesnt mean the program has changed or become less important, only that our practical understanding has changed and grown. To keep our recovery fresh and vital, we need to stay alert for opportunities to practice our program. = Just for today: As I keep growing in my recovery, I will search for new ways to practice my program.

15

7 Comments

Experts back devolution of planning permission laws 🔑🚌 #Infrastructure #LocalGovernance #PlanningDevolution #construction #FacilitiesServices

3

I am interested in becoming a quantity surveyor and am eager to learn the skills and knowledge required for this role. Could anyone give me some advice about courses I could do to further this goal and also for companies with good starting opportunities. #quantitysurveying #constructionmanagement #projectmanagement

5

5 Comments

🚀 We're buzzing at Contract Scotland and here's why you should be part of this excitement: ✅ Expertise: With nearly 40 years in recruitment, we know the civil engineering sector inside out. ✅ Personal Touch: We're not just recruiters; we're industry enthusiasts who take the time to understand your career aspirations. ✅ Abundance of Opportunities: Our books are overflowing with roles waiting for skilled professionals like you. ✅ Confidentiality: Fancy a chat? We're all ears and discretion is our middle name. 👷‍♂️ Civil engineering talent, we need you! Our projects are as ambitious as your dreams and we're keen to match the two. 📧 Drop me a line at karin.campbell@contractscotland.co.uk for a no-strings chat. 👇 Share your thoughts or tag someone who'd be perfect for this! #recruitment #recruitmentredefined #civilengineering

3

The importance of having a diverse client base in construction🏗️ In the building industry, being diverse in what you do isn't just a way to grow—it's key to staying strong even when money matters get shaky.💵 My time working in Yorkshire has shown me that main contractors who work in different sectors, and with a mix of clientele, are better at handling tough economic times.💪 But being diverse isn't only about playing it safe. Taking on various types of projects helps us keep learning and come up with new ideas, which makes us sharper against the competition and gives our company a better name.👌 Having different kinds of clients is a smart move to protect us against unpredictable money ups and downs, showing how important it is to plan well and have strong connections with clients.👍 If you're looking for a managerial role within a diverse main contractor, and want to broaden your skillset, get in touch we're recruiting!☎️📞 #BuildingDiversity #Construction #StayingStrong

2

You need to act fast!!! As we all know, there is a lack of surveyors in the UK, and good surveyors are in high demand. And as a recruiter, clients often waste your time: "Please send CVs of any Building Surveyors you have; we need someone to start ASAP." I then send over 2-3 CVs, only to hear nothing for weeks as they contemplate advertising permanently or trying other agencies. In the long run, they'll struggle to find a high-quality surveyor at a below-market rate or from a cheap agency. Hiring a good contractor from a specialist agency will save money and time!!

17

If you are a groundwork contractor that wants to win housing jobs you should think about these things: 1. You have to reach out to house builders and get housing tenders to price 2. You have to understand who your business appeals to, so many people ring me an say I'm looking for housing sites around 400/500 houses, aren't they all 😂 be realistic if your new to housing your not walking into the game with housebuilders in the top 10 3. You have to come to terms with the fact that 99.9% of the time housing tenders are lump sum prices not BOQs and you have to invest more money into your estimating upfront - people want to win housing tenders then buckle at the knees when they have to pay to price it - the games not easy. The ones that made it took the leap of faith and took the pricing cost on the chin, you wont win what you don't price 4. Whoever prices your tenders must be able to present them correctly - I've seen time and time again housing tenders where you cant make head nor tail of the price, the housebuilder wants to see a breakdown of how much its costing per plot. You need a plot matrix and you need to present the cost clearly, main contractor QSs can be lazy so when you create confusion and someone else creates clarity....you lose If you own a groundworks company and you want to win more housing work then call me 📞 07497 381 056 #housingtenders #residential #lumpsumhousing #quantitysurveying

28

1 Comment

12 major contractors coming together to lobby the incoming government. What do you think?💭 A group of contractors, including Balfour Beatty plc and Mace have written up a 'Blueprint for Growth' that they're proposing to the incoming government to make sure infrastructure is properly invested in and the Construction industry can continue to grow📈 I'd love to see the government supporting our Construction industry, workers and companies more. Especially with a long-term mindset towards key issues such as Net-Zero and waste reduction. Their proposals will also help reduce bottlenecks and could see stagnant construction projects back up and running, like the Stonehenge tunnel. But I'm wondering, what my network thinks of their propositions. And how the incoming government can help the industry continue to grow? Drop your opinions below!👇 More info here: https://lnkd.in/ee32d9Kf #ConstructionNews #VickerstockConstruction #BlueprintForGrowth #Vickerstock #Construction

5

For my latest headhunting project, I have collectively targetted 101 #CivilEngineers, #StructuralTechnicians & #StructuralEngineers in the East & West Midlands but wow what a challenge I've got on my hands. Currently, I have specifically targetted 101, ruled out 5 for various reasons (not enough experience, lack of UK experience, people completing their Masters working towards chartership so it's not the right time to move and people that are genuinely happy) and I have shortlisted & submitted 1 person who has shared interest. I know a lot of people look at me as a contingency recruiter. When Hiring Managers ask you to fill positions as of yesterday, it's the fastest finger first approach, you're often competing with other agencies and sometimes the client themselves and you only get paid when the job is done. The truth is this doesn't work for me. I hate it. But more recently I've been working on exclusive assignments, and I've verbally agreed to my first retainer when the time comes and this is the direction my business will be heading in for several reasons to be discussed at a later date. ❌ I don't get lucky with CVs landing on my desk and if I do 9/10 they don't match up to the jobs I'm working on ❌I don't have access to the usual job boards ❌I don't have a graveyard of a database filled with hundreds of thousands of phone numbers and emails to cold call and spam ❌I don't have a Linkedin premium profile to spam out InMails willy nilly nor do I have Linkedin jobs to advertise ❌I don't send speculative CV's tarnishing your name in the industry to generate job opportunities But that is okay because I do love proactively targeting / headhunting individual professionals who would specifically be suitable for the opportunities I'm working on. It's more challenging and time-consuming, these people are not readily available and I'm often enticing them out of jobs they are otherwise happy in, there's a hell of a lot more grunt work upfront before you get any results but this is the recruitment that I thoroughly enjoy. And when you get it right it's extremely rewarding mentally. So, if you are one of the 101 #CivilEngineers, #StructuralTechnicians & #StructuralEngineers in the East Midlands / West Midlands which I have approached in the last few weeks then think yourself lucky and get back to me because your next challenge could be around the corner 😜 but in all seriousness if I have reached out I would love to talk to you more about this dynamic and progressive Multidisciplinary Consultancy I'm working closely with in and around the area. 📧 Email: jasmine@jjconstructionrecruitment 👩‍💼 Website: https://lnkd.in/efWy9ytc 📢 Vacancy details: https://lnkd.in/eJ2XqbmB ⏰ Working days: Tuesdays | Wednesdays | Thursdays | Fridays Inboxes managed daily 📅 Telephone Availability: Book in a telephone consultation for a date/time which suits you https://lnkd.in/eG26ACxu

3

4 Comments

Good morning all . Not feeling it today as I have just had some shit news . As some are aware I had a procedure carried out on Wednesday. This was a standard procedure but could have consequences. Well it happened on my watch Im now lay with Hole in my bowel which has become infected My first thought was fck why me . 18 months ago I’d be pissed out of my head thinking oh well shit happens ,,,,, in fact that’s a lie because I would have even go to the hospital in the first place . Todays reading ( CONFLICT) July 4 Conflict We learn that conflicts are a part of reality, and we learn new ways to resolve them instead of running from them. Basic Text, p. 90 = From time to time, we all experience conflicts. It may be that we just cant get along with that new coworker. Maybe our friends are driving us crazy. Or perhaps our partner isnt living up to our expectations. Dealing with any conflict is difficult for recovering addicts. When tempers rise, it is often a good idea to back away from the situation until cooler minds prevail. We can always return for further discussion when we have calmed down. We cant avoid troubling situations, but we can use time and distance to find perspective. Conflict is a part of life. We cant go through our entire recovery without encountering disagreements and differences of opinion. Sometimes we can back away from these situations, taking time to reflect on them, but there always comes a time when conflict must be resolved. When that time comes, we take a deep breath, say a prayer, and apply the principles our program has given us: honesty, openness, responsibility, forgiveness, trust, and all the rest. We didnt get clean to keep running from lifeand in recovery, we dont have to run anymore. = Just for today: The principles my program has given me are sufficient to guide me through any situation. I will strive to confront conflict in a healthy way.

8

RICS consultation on CPD changes. It effects all members so worth reading and responding. Headlines include: 1. 30 hours minimum 2. End to the formal and informal confusion, prefering structured and unstructured. 3. 20 hours must be structured (formal) 4. Mandatory areas incl Ethics, Equality and Diversity, Sustainability, Data & AI and Legal/Regulatory/Markets 5. Members must write a personal reflection statement on their CPD. Mostly I think this is a good and proportionate approach, however, 20 hours of structured learning should be supported by RICS providing access to the vast CPD they produce to members for minimal costs or as part of subscriptions, particularly for mandatory CPD. https://lnkd.in/eHcv-j5a

12

8 Comments

Just case anyone can spare a couple of quid please see below my page for the moving through May Kier Challenge

5

Bank holiday's approaching! 🎉 Long weekends are like a breath of fresh air, aren't they? that extra day to reset before returning to our busy work lives makes such a difference. I'm curious, how do you plan to spend this bank holiday? A pause from the daily grind can spark a fresh wave of innovation when we return. #BankHoliday #RestAndRelaxation #WorkLifeBalance

6

5 Comments