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12:01:2010
The mentor/mentee partnership at May Gurney
May Gurney offers a creative working environment in which new recruits can help shape the future of the business.The company’s robust and flexible development programme is backed by full support from a personal mentor whose role is to coach and assist new recruits.
In this feature we look at the mentor/mentee relationship between graduate Peter Hunnam and highways services schemes manager Alan Smith.
Peter Hunnam aged 28, is a graduate assistant bid co-ordinator for May Gurney’s highway services sector. Having completed a degree in environmental earth sciences Peter joined May Gurney on a three months placement. Having enjoyed his work experience he applied to join May Gurney’s two-year graduate programme in September 2009.
Peter’s role sees him supporting his team with hands-on tasks, including background research for tenders and technical writing for quality submissions. He has worked on a secondment within one of May Gurney’s clients so that he can see how work is carried out at the client’s base, and has also moved around various difference parts of the sector.
As well as gaining an overview of the different roles within the business, Peter says he enjoys the variety that the position offers.
May Gurney is also providing support and flexibility as Peter furthers his education. He has the opportunity to apply for funding for further relevant qualifications, such as a Master’s course.
He is currently studying towards a national vocational qualification (NVQ) Level 3 in construction site management, which see him out of the office and on the front line with site workers.
Peter says: “If you are a graduate and don’t have an area of specialism you can sample different disciplines to find one to suit you. I have found everyone to be friendly and approachable and I have a mentor who is always happy to coach and assist me in my role.”
Alan Smith is a highway services schemes manager working on May Gurney’s long-term highways maintenance partnership with Norfolk County Council.
He is responsible for delivering Norfolk’s planning and transportation programme for the maintenance of roads and bridges in the county. He joined the company straight from university 24 years ago having completed a degree in civil engineering.
Alan says: “I enjoy the variety of work I do at May Gurney. I have the scope to work across different areas of the projects and parts of the business.
“As well as working on site in the highways sector, I also work in the design office with the team there, while spending time in the rail and facility services sectors.”
May Gurney has sponsored Alan’s chartered professional review process to become a chartered engineer and a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).
He has also undertaken management development courses, which are developed in-house, and is supported with other educational training as it is required.
In turn, Alan trains other May Gurney employees as a ‘Be the best’ mentor for trainees, apprentices and graduates across the business. He is also a supervising civil engineer for the ICE, encouraging and supporting graduate engineers into the industry.
Click here to find out more about a career with May Gurney.
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