Construction company celebrates after three employees gain degree-level qualifications

A North Wales construction company is celebrating after three employees, all of whom started as apprentices, have gained degree-level qualifications in site management.

Mark Wilson, 33, Bryn Roberts, 48, and Andy Lea, 32, all passed their NVQ Level 6 in Site Management, overcoming hurdles that arose during the pandemic to do so.

Face-to-face interviews with assessors were replaced by video conferencing and the trio had to provide a portfolio of evidence in the absence of site visits.

Mark and Andy both joined Wynne straight from school aged 16, while Bryn joined as a mature student after a career in catering. The three men, who have all worked in carpentry, passed their NVQ level 4 last year, before going on to take the next step into site management.

Andy, from Old Colwyn, worked on his qualification while managing the Penrhos business units project in Holyhead.

Andy said: “When I started at Wynne Construction, I would have been quite happy to be a joiner, but I soon recognised there were bigger opportunities within the company, so after I carried out my joinery apprenticeship, I was then given the opportunity to be an assistant site manager.

“I looked at the broader picture: do I want to be on the tools for the whole of my career or take the opportunity I was ready for? It is a great feeling of accomplishment completing the NVQ and it’s brilliant that Wynne has supported me throughout my career.”

Mark says the level they’ve reached shows senior roles in the company are open to everyone if they put in the effort

He said: “I’ve been with the company for 17 years, and they saw I had enthusiasm and potential to progress and it’s been great to do so.

“I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of working towards relevant qualifications, it’s something Wynne recognised early on in my career. I achieved NVQ level 4, a couple of years ago, when managing the Rhyl Travelodge project, and I’m very happy to have achieved Level 6 this year.”

Bryn, from Dolwen, grew up on a farm before spending five years working in catering and then working on sites as a machine operator, before doing his carpentry and joinery NVQs with Wynne.

He gained his qualification while working on the new RNLI station at Pwllheli. He believes that construction is an ideal industry to build a career in, with plenty of opportunities.

He said: “The construction sector is such a vast industry with so many different avenues to go down from office work to being based on site.

“It’s one of the best industries to work in, and for a youngster, there are that many openings and opportunities they can do.

“I’m really grateful to Wynne for investing in my career and development and I’m looking forward to putting the theory in practice on site.”

Chris Wynne, managing director at Wynne Construction, said: “it’s really important for us to support our staff who want to progress in their careers and is the ethos of our new Foundation, Wynne Futures.

“We have always encouraged our employees in their development, and Andy, Mark and Bryn are proof that, whatever level you join the company, if you put the work in, we’re willing to invest in you.”

Wynne Construction operates throughout Wales and the North West of England, and regularly leads on projects in sectors including education, healthcare, and sport and leisure.

The company is also on the North Wales Construction Partnership (NWCP), the South-East and mid-Wales Collaborative Construction Framework (SEWSCAP3) and the South West Wales Regional Contractors Framework (SSWRCF).

In November 2018, it was named SME (up to 250 employees) of the year at the UK-wide Constructing Excellence awards.

For more information, visit www.wynneconstruction.co.uk