Budding engineer bags job with top UK firm after travelling 140 miles to be at careers event9th Aug 2016

Determination paid off for budding young civil engineer Sean Jones after he undertook a four-hour journey to a careers open day in an effort to secure a work placement and was offered a job.

Construction and surveying student Sean, travelled the 140-mile journey from his home in Glynneath, South Wales to attend the inaugural careers day held by award-winning Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK in Ruthin, North Wales.

He had been hoping to arrange a summer placement but managers at Jones Bros, impressed by his attitude and determination, offered him a job on the spot.

Sean, who is studying for a foundation degree in sustainable construction with the Open University in South Wales, is delighted as he prepares to embark on an exciting new career.

“It was fantastic to be offered a job when I attended the event as I was just hoping to get some work experience,” said Sean, 25. “It was definitely worth the trip, I can’t wait to get started.”

Sean first learned about Jones Bros through its civils work at Vattenfall’s Pen y Cymoedd Wind Energy Project, England and Wales’ largest wind farm, which is being constructed near to his hometown.

“I was driving past and spotted a Jones Bros van so reversed, got out of my car and managed to speak to two of the firm’s managers about what it was like,” he said. “This really spurred me on so I wrote to Jones Bros head office to enquire about opportunities and heard about the careers event.

“I’ve just finished the first year of a four year degree course and was really interested in getting some work experience, particularly on roads, bridges and marine projects which I know Jones Bros is very involved in.

“I will be able to continue with my studies as well as learning on the job as a trainee, which is a great combination.”

The careers day held by Jones Bros drew dozens of visitors from across Wales and was organised in a bid to attract applications at a sufficient rate to fill its expanding apprentice and trainee engineer programmes.

The firm has identified that future growth may be slowed by a lack of trainees rather than insufficient new work.

John Dielhof, Jones Bros’ managing director, said: “We had no hesitation in offering a job to Sean. He is an impressive young man, as not only did he make the effort to attend the event, he also contacted us in advance and spoke to our workers in Pen y Cymoedd.

“It is terrific that he is joining our team and I have no doubt he will be an asset to the company. The careers event itself proved a great success with many young people who attended saying they were surprised how big the company has become and they hadn’t realised how many career opportunities were on their doorstep.

“Just by attending, these young people have shown initiative, which is a quality Jones Bros regards highly.”

John is keen to spread the word that there are many opportunities at Jones Bros, not just as apprentice construction workers and trainee civil engineers but also in finance, quantity surveying and ecology. The family firm is also keen to hear from students studying subjects including maths, finance, quantity surveying and construction management who are looking for a work placement.

“There are lots of opportunities here for people with the right attitude who are willing to learn,” continued John. “In return we can provide great opportunities and structured career progression for those who want it.”

Opportunities at Jones Bros include apprenticeships in general construction and operating plant machinery with progression to supervisor, foreman, works manager and senior construction manager. A scheme for trainee engineers involves day release at college and learning on site in the holidays, while there are also training programmes for graduate civil engineers.

Founded in the 1950s, the family firm has grown significantly in the last decade. Its areas of expertise include the construction of waste management facilities, highways, flood and marine defence and renewable energy projects.

To find out more visit www.jones-bros.com, or like its Facebook page by searching for “Jones Bros Careers.”