At Kilmac, we believe that work placements should provide more than an introduction to the construction industry. When delivered effectively, they can help young people understand their options, make informed career decisions and create a genuine pathway into education and employment.
David joined Kilmac after leaving school with a strong academic background and an interest in pursuing a career within civil engineering. While he knew he wanted to work within the industry, he was unsure whether his future lay in Civil Engineering or Quantity Surveying.
To help David explore both options, Kilmac provided a two-week work placement combining practical site experience with time in our office.
Rather than focusing on one role, the placement allowed David to see different aspects of how civil engineering projects are delivered and understand the relationship between site operations and the commercial management of a project.
By the end of the two weeks, David had gained a much clearer understanding of the career opportunities available to him and identified the commercial route, particularly Quantity Surveying, as the area best suited to his interests and strengths.
Following the placement, David began exploring his next steps, considering university and college alongside Modern and Graduate Apprenticeship routes.
Kilmac continued to support him beyond the original placement. Working with Lauren Pratt, Social Value & Marketing Manager, David explored the different education and career pathways available and received support with progressing his application to Fife College.
This resulted in David successfully securing a place to study towards an HNC in Quantity Surveying.
We recognised that David would benefit from continuing to develop practical industry experience alongside his academic studies.
Kilmac therefore offered David paid part-time employment for two days per week alongside his HNC.
This means his learning does not stop when the original placement finishes. David can now combine his college education with regular experience within a live civil engineering business, developing his commercial knowledge, workplace skills and understanding of the industry while working towards his qualification.
David's journey demonstrates what meaningful social value can achieve when work experience is treated as the beginning of a pathway rather than a standalone activity.
2-week work placement → Career pathway identified → HNC place secured → 2 days' paid employment per week → Continued professional development
The placement provided David with the experience needed to make an informed career decision. Continued support helped turn that decision into an education pathway, while paid employment provides the opportunity to build experience, earn alongside his studies and strengthen his future employment prospects.
For Kilmac, this approach also supports the development of the future construction workforce by identifying talented young people early and providing a structured route into the industry.
David's story represents the type of long-term impact Kilmac aims to achieve through our social value programme.
Success is not simply measured by the number of placement weeks delivered. It is about understanding what happens next.
In David's case, a two-week placement has developed into further education, paid employment and the foundations of a potential long-term career within the construction industry.
That is the difference between delivering a social value commitment and creating lasting social value.
