Six university students who completed their placement year with construction firm Beard have been offered permanent positions with the company once they finish their studies.

The students spent a year gaining on-the-job experience across Beard’s offices in Bristol, Swindon, Guildford and Southampton, where they were praised for their work ethic, technical ability and professional attitude.

The students set to return to Beard on a full-time basis from July 2026 are:

Mitch Burton, studying Quantity Surveying at Oxford Brookes University – Southampton office

Finlay Eaton, studying Construction Project Management at the University of the West of England – Swindon office

Izzy Scanlan, studying Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management at Oxford Brookes University – Guildford office

Jack Thomas, studying Construction Project Management at Oxford Brookes University – Guildford office

Jacob Thornton, studying Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management at the University of the West of England – Bristol office

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Amber Kamugisha, studying Architecture at the University of Exeter – Swindon office

The placement year programme is part of Beard’'s long-standing commitment to developing new talent in the construction sector, with initiatives designed to give students wider exposure to the business, including team-building events and career development sessions.

Neil Sherreard, deputy chairman at Beard, said: "Supporting the next generation of professionals in laying the foundations for a successful construction career is a cornerstone of what we do at Beard, to grow talent, support our business ambitions, and play our part in addressing the rising demand for talent in the industry.

"We hope to not only support them in learning the practical skills to do their jobs, but also to experience the Beard way of doing things, help them to build a network of peers, and engage with colleagues at all levels of the business.

"We're always impressed by the level of skill, professionalism and enthusiasm of our placement year students and this cohort has been no different. Many congratulations to them all and we look forward to welcoming them back through our doors on completion of their studies."

The 2024/25 intake also marked the first time Beard welcomed a Masters-level student onto the programme. Architecture student Amber Kamugisha, from the University of Exeter, will join the company's design team in Swindon after graduating.

She said: "As an architecture student, I hadn't considered a role in the main contractor stage of construction, but the opportunity I had to explore this pathway has significantly broadened my horizons. With the support of so many brilliant colleagues, I learnt so much whilst enjoying the experience with Beard.

"Beard has been a great place to celebrate the construction of great buildings, grow professionally, and be a part of welcoming team. I am grateful for being offered a position in design management at Beard and I'm looking forward to returning after completing my degree."