Jack Foster
Study Type: Higher Education
Study Location: The Roundhouse
Subject Studied: Professional Construction
Site manager and DCG HNC student Jack glad he changed career
Changing career at 21 turned out to be the right move for Derby College Group HNC civil engineering student Jack Foster.
Jack, now 25 from New Ollerton in Nottinghamshire, is currently finishing the level 4 course while working as a site manager for construction engineering company Eurovia. He won the Institute of Civil Engineers East Midlands civil engineering achiever award 2022, after being nominated by his workplace.
When he first left school, Jack took a business apprenticeship with the idea of training as an accountant, but later realised it wasn’t for him.
Instead, he took a site management traineeship with his previous employer, Via East Midlands, which included taking the BTEC National Diploma in Civil Engineering at Derby College.
Jack said: “I’m really enjoying college and finishing my HNC coursework. The course is giving me all the knowledge I need to carry out my job as a site manager, so I’m really happy with it. The construction information part is a real highlight as it sets out all the applications for everything that we’re learning.
“Our tutors are good too. They have wide experience in civil engineering and are able to pass on their knowledge and theory to us. There are three of us on my course who moved on to the level 4 from the level 3.
“It’s a great course for people in my role. I’d definitely recommend it.”
Eurovia has a range of public sector clients and Jack is responsible for running the job on site. He works with the foreman to make sure everything is carried out to a high standard, including the logistics. He is currently based on a site in Derby on a two-year project but will be moving on somewhere else in the region when that’s completed.
Jack added: “I’m happy in my current role. I’m where I aspired to be and I don’t plan on studying for further qualifications once I have my HNC.
“Longer term, maybe in 10 years’ time, I might like to be a contracts manager.
“My time is split 50/50 between office and on site. My work involves different elements of construction, so I do a little bit of everything. It can be challenging at times but it helps to reaffirm what I already know as well as teaching me new things.”
I’m really enjoying college and finishing my HNC coursework. The course is giving me all the knowledge I need to carry out my job as a site manager, so I’m really happy with it.