STUDENT VOICE Student Voice SPRING SUMMER 2017 | Page 34
I’m studying Construction
Management. I have recently
been on two work placements
each lasting five days. These
companies were G.R Contracts
and Kier Group plc - both
sophisticated companies.
G.R Contracts
During my placement with G.R
Contracts I wasn’t based in
one site, instead I was on three
different sites: two of which were
in Glasgow city centre and the
other in Motherwell. I got to see
how sites were managed and
compare them.
DEAN
“
I shadowed
the Senior Site
Manager who
spoke to me about
his experiences in
construction.
”
I was mentored by a Setting Out
Engineer from G.R Contracts. I
was taught how to line and level
structural steel columns using
various techniques. In one case we
had to use a tirfor to help plumb
the frame. I was also shown how
to use CAD to create a polyline
which highlighted the orientation
of each individual steel column.
I visited their workshop where I
learned about the properties of
steel and how it is manufactured
and its properties. Their
production line consisted of a
machine which was used to cut
the steel to shape and size. The
components were then manually
welded together as well as
fabricated.
Kier Group plc
During this placement, I was in
contact with various professional
personnel. I was taken through
the building by the Construction
Manager and was shown how the
building was being constructed. I
learned how they leave a degree
of flexibility within buildings -
for example they introduced
deflection heads to me. These are
details designed to accommodate
movement in the structural slab
when live loads are applied. They
were incorporated in the internal
partitioning.
I also attended a site coordination
meeting which was led by the
Senior Site Manager and the
Construction Manager. During
the meeting, some subjects such
as delivery time and dates where
noted as well as the health and
safety updates. I shadowed the
Senior Site Manager who spoke
to me about his experiences
in construction so far and the
obstacles he has had to overcome.
He was signing off the internal and
external windows of the ground
floor for completion and was
highlighting the tolerances needed
to be achieved. This furthered my
understanding of tolerances and
the importance of making sure
they are correct.
My final encounter was with the
site engineer. I helped him check
the centres of steel columns within
the building.
INTERESTED ?
If your ambition is to build a career in construction we can
offer you a good solid foundation in whichever area that
interests you.
Learn more about our construction courses at
www.ayrshire.ac.uk
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THE STUDENT VOICE SPRING/SUMMER 2017