Building a new career
A Hamilton woman has swapped the high life for a constructive new career after being made redundant from her position as an air hostess.
Lynsey Kirk lost her job during the Covid pandemic, leaving her at a “crossroads” and looking for her next move.
The 22-year-old decided to embark on a completely different challenge in becoming a quantity surveyor and is now undergoing a graduate apprenticeship with GRAHAM.
Lynsey said: “after being made redundant from my air hostess role during Covid, I was at a crossroads looking for the best next step for my career.
“In my early 20s, it was challenging to know what to do next.
“But after I was introduced to the GRAHAM team, they opened a door to a career in construction I’d never considered.
“The mix of on-site practical experience and degree-level education is a fantastic way to get to grips with the role properly, and I will feel confident stepping into a full-time role with GRAHAM after graduation in 2026.
“It gives me great peace of mind to know that I have guaranteed employment after completing my degree and I’m excited to progress a successful career in the Scottish construction industry.”
GRAHAM is celebrating the next generation of women in construction and the opportunities it provides to encourage people from nontraditional routes into construction.
Debbie Rutherford, social impact manager at GRAHAM Building North, said: “The construction industry is experiencing a real skills shortage.
“There is a concerning lack of qualified people available to fill vacancies, and in a bid to address this, GRAHAM has made a significant investment in the training and upskilling of colleagues with the aim of building future talent – and retaining existing skills for the company.
“It has been well documented that the candidate pool of construction workers is shrinking at an unsustainable rate, and long-term solutions are required.
“Therefore, earn-as-you learn schemes, such as graduate apprenticeships, are critical for employers.”