"I am currently completing an apprenticeship as a joiner within Henry Brothers Ltd. Within my apprenticeship I have been fortunate enough to work alongside people who know the industry inside out and are experts in their field. I find my apprenticeship interesting and enjoyable as I am able to not only learn new skills but able to earn a wage at the same time.

There is a lot more to completing an apprenticeship than people realise. As an apprentice I have gained skills that vary from working with tools such as studding walls and fitting skirting boards, to developing my communication skills. Within the industry I am always faced with new challenges and experiences, which has pushed me to complete a Level 3 in joinery after I complete my Level 2 this year."

"I first started with Henry Brothers as a placement student, to fulfil the requirements of my Masters in Sustainable Development to part take in a 12 week placement within a business. The aim of my placement project within the company was ‘Sustaining the supply chain through NVIR-O-CERT’ for one of Henry Brothers largest projects, learning valuable skills and knowledge about the construction industry along the way. As part of my placement within the company, working as an Environmental and Quality Placement Student for our sites, I quickly learnt about the requirements and implementation of our certified standards. As both the ISO 14001 and 9001 requirements are utilised daily and are the crux of the role.

Every site posed different challenges relating to both the environment and quality aspects; however this only aided to enhance my role. Since then I have now became a permanent member of the company, working within the SHEQ team as an Environmental and Quality Advisor. I have gained more abilities through my continual CPD with the company, from training in becoming an Internal Auditor for our Integrated Management Systems to Aconex training, a platform for all of the site projects. The past year and a half have proved to be the best learning curve for myself, as I have strongly progressed in my role. My job is also rewarding as my passion for protecting the environments that we work in and providing sustainability for our future generations in every aspect of construction is continually being fulfilled."

"I took a position with the company in September 1981 as a site labourer, working on the Ballykelly site. From there I progressed to charge hand and then foreman over about 4-5 years and held this position for quite a few years until I was approached by senior management to take on my current role as Contracts Manager, a post which I have executed for the past 15 years.

During this progression I have been on various training and development courses, which include:- Introduction to CDM Regulations 1995 (N I), Site Safety Supervisors Course (CITB), First Aid, (CITB), Contract Law and Site Management (CITB), CSR Senior Managers Black Card, Introduction to Temporary Works Procedures and Coordination, Appointed Persons Cranes, Ground Improvement and Soil Nailing, alcohol & drug awareness training, Mental health awareness training, NVQ 6 achievement and most recently a Management & Leadership Development program to challenge, inspire and facilitate learning. All of these have contributed significantly to my own personal development, whilst at the same time ensuring that the operation of the company is carried out by suitably competent and experienced staff.

Over my period of employment the Construction industry has changed dramatically and Henry Brothers have embraced this through moving into different markets and undertaking a wider range of construction projects. The modern industry puts more emphasis on Health and Safety, employee health and wellbeing, and engagement, for which the company has promoted….healthy eating talks, alcohol & drug awareness training, Euro football fan zone, ice-cream Friday, family fun days, Big Breakfast event to celebrate 40 years in business, fundraising activities, Feedback Friday (over a cuppa & bun), mental health support – to name only a few."

"Hello folks my name is Michael Taylor and I have worked to Henry Brothers for 27 years, read on and I will give you a brief insight into the lows and highs of 27 years working to Henry Brothers. I can remember my interview with Jim Henry and Dave Smith very well ,after our discussion about various things Jim said to me that I had very little experience and would probably not be any use to him ,to which I replied did you have much experience when you started the building trade. I received the one raised eye brow from Jim and thought that that was the end of any correspondence, but to my surprise a week later I received a letter offering me a start which I accepted.

I started as a labourer and was sent to whitehead police station for my first day. It was a quick learning curve for me and over the next few months I often wondered if I had made the right decision to join the company but carried on and started to settle in .Through the next few years I stayed in the Maintainence Dept in the greater Belfast area and got to meet a lot of people from different walks of life which for a young country lad was sometimes daunting to say the least .As time went on I was encouraged by the foreman to try my hand at various things and gained a lot of knowledge which has stayed with me to this day.

After about six years I was moved to a project for the Ballymena council .It was an environmental centre for schools to come to visit and learn more about environmental issues and it was there that I met Don Brownlee the site foreman on that job ,a man who over the next lot of years i learned a lot from. Whilst on site one day Don came to me and said that Jim Henry wanted to speak to me in the site office, a thought that in my younger days sent a chill down my spin. I went to the office and Jim told me to sit down opposite him, he said to me “I’m looking for a man to take charge of a few men and work on keeping the inside of the building ship shape and various activities and that Don had recommended me to do the job .I said I would give it a go and hence that was a start to a new chapter in my career at Henry Brothers. I quickly progressed to looking after small projects for the company and my first was a small extension to a school which specialized in learning difficulties.

As the years passed I was involved in a lot more major projects like Loughside, Lanyon Place, Lakenheath, and at the moment I am site manager on the new Translink service depot in Belfast which I am enjoying very much. I am working with a great team of people. I have been given a the chance by Henry Brothers to get involved in the rebranding of the company and have met with colleagues to discuss various aspects of this, which is due to be launched very soon. I have been given a lot of training opportunities over the years and have learned a lot from such courses .Henry Brothers have given me a chance to develop my management skills something which I never thought I possessed. All in all I have enjoyed the past 27 years and hope to be here to see the company progress further."

“I had no background in the Construction industry before joining the company as an administrator but Henry Brothers decided to take a chance and hire me, and I’ve been here for a year and a half now. I’ve felt like part of the team from day one, and my colleagues in the Midlands are always helping me to expand my knowledge of the more technical side of the job. I’ve learnt more about curtain walling and balustrades in my time here than Grand Designs has ever taught me!

I appreciate the support we get from Henry Brothers whenever we request further training and development. I became a First Aider within a few months of joining the company, and recently I asked if I could attend a course in Mental Health First Aid, as I felt that it would be beneficial for the Midlands region to have Mental Health First Aiders based here as well as emergency first aiders. Henry Brothers paid for me to attend the 2 day course, and although I’ve not had to apply my training to the workplace, it has proved useful in my personal life, and it’s good to know that I’m prepared should anyone need my help at work.

I always like to be very involved with activities such as fundraising and competitions run by HR. Henry Brothers recently took part in the Macmillan Coffee Morning, and there’s always a quiz or a competition being sent out here or there. It’s not always that exciting working in an office all day, so it’s nice to be able to break up the working day with a bit of fun. I’ve always felt like an equal member of the team here in Nottingham; I’m never made to feel like I’m worth less to the company because I’m “just admin”. I’m always involved with the tender submissions and I love being able to boss the management team around a bit when the deadline is looming! There’s a great support network in place - the team help each other out whenever necessary and you’re never left to struggle if you’ve got a lot on your plate. It’s great being part of a team that communicates and gets on so well.”