Concrete Technician
Billy's job title is Laboratory Manager at Balfour Beatty
When I started as a technician I was doing a lot of lab testing and on-site work, but now I am a Laboratory Manager, I conduct statistical analysis and when something is not quite right, I look at the trends and take action from there.
It’s a combination of going into the office, so I can liaise with the rest of the site, and staying in to manage my lab. In the lab we quality assure all the materials being used in construction projects – I make sure all the equipment is calibrated and the materials are being tested. I also look into the materials engineering side of things.
Hear more about Billy's role by watching the video below...
That laboratories even exist in the construction industry! I had no idea they did until I started working here.
When I’m working on the materials engineering side of things, I look at the statistics of all the tests I’m doing to make sure everything is good or if there are going to be problems - before they become problems, which is something I really like doing.
The camaraderie on every single team I’ve worked with here has been really good. I love working in this department because your team becomes like your family. It’s heart-wrenching when people leave, but it keeps it interesting, because different projects pose different challenges, and each new challenge brings different people.
I take a lot of pride in my work. I feel what I do makes a difference, especially in the research and development and the chem-free trials coming up. If they are a success, it will be great because it reduces the company’s carbon footprint and reducing CO2 emissions helps the environment. Being a cog in the machine working on that makes me feel very proud.
I got a lot of support from the training provider and from the company. I have learnt so much and it’s given me the foundation needed to excel in my career.
Discover what qualifications you’ll need, how much you can earn, and what the next steps are.
