Work Experience at Quinn London

At Quinn London, we are proud to support the development of the next generation of construction professionals through our work experience program. Over the past 6 months, we have hosted nine work experience students across various departments within our company. This initiative has given students a valuable glimpse into the professional world and has involved a significant investment of time and effort from our dedicated staff.

In total, our team has generously contributed 296 hours to this programme, reflecting our commitment to supporting young talent and offering hands-on, impactful experiences. We are proud to have placed students across our business, including with site teams, quantity surveyors, supply chain, and admin teams. This wide-ranging involvement of different team members has been crucial to the success feedback we have received.

Our work experience programme starts with students being nominated by their schools, such as Saracen High School and Finchley Catholic Secondary School. Before their placement, students receive a welcome pack with all the essential information they need. On their first day, they undergo an induction where they learn about Quinn London’s culture, meet their teams, and get a detailed schedule with a challenge for them to tackle during their time with us.

Students spent time with a range of departments, including Property Services, the Homerton NEC Project Team, Heritage, Supply Chain, Procurement, and Human Resources, spending a day or two with each team to gain a broad perspective on our operations. At the end of their placement, they present their challenge solutions and participate in an exit interview. This feedback helps us continually improve our programme and ensure that every student has a meaningful and enriching experience.

Kit Siu, our Assistant Sub-Contractor Buyer, shares his enthusiasm for the programme: “Having the work experience students with us has been a highlight. Their eagerness to learn and the unique viewpoints they bring are invigorating. We’re thrilled to offer them opportunities to explore different career paths and develop essential skills.”

Anonymous feedback from students highlights the impact of their experience:

• “Working at Quinn London was an eye-opener. I was amazed by how many different teams are involved in a project and how they all work together. It gave me a real understanding of the industry.”
• “I loved the chance to be involved in real projects and see how everything fits together. The support from everyone was fantastic, and I feel much more confident about my future career.”
• “The experience has been invaluable. I learned so much from different departments and had the opportunity to contribute to meaningful work. It’s been inspiring to see how a large company operates behind the scenes.”

Our commitment to work experience is further bolstered by our collaborations with local schools and our partnerships with Hackney Council and Spark! These relationships are crucial, helping us connect with enthusiastic students and create pathways to valuable career opportunities.

Looking ahead, we are excited to continue this journey. In the coming months, we will be welcoming another five students into our programme. This ongoing initiative underscores our dedication to fostering future careers and helping young professionals find their paths in the industry.

Bianca Tia Mesuria, our Social Value Manager, emphasises our commitment to future growth: “Our work experience programme has grown threefold in the past three years, reflecting our deepening commitment to nurturing young talent. As a business we recognise the urgent need for skilled professionals in our industry and are dedicated to doing more. We are incredibly proud of our company-wide efforts and look forward to expanding these opportunities further.”