To mark National Careers Week, Van Elle is highlighting the extensive range of professional opportunities available within the construction and ground engineering sectors. The company is using the initiative to showcase that there is no single established route into the industry, with both men and women thriving across various levels of the business.

Six employees from across the Van Elle Group have shared their personal career journeys, providing insight into how roles can evolve from entry-level positions to senior leadership.

Debbie, Apprentice Civil Engineer Debbie joined Rock & Alluvium to gain practical site experience. She noted: "Applying what I've learned at university and in the office to real projects has been incredibly rewarding. Visiting site for the first time and observing concrete trials and construction in progress really brought engineering to life and showed how design, testing and site teams work together. Being supported by an experienced team has helped build my confidence, and I'm excited to see how much I continue to develop."

Nils, Graduate After completing a five-year apprenticeship in 2025, Nils achieved a First Class Honours in Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management. He said: "Alongside technical knowledge in cost management and contracts, I've developed essential skills through project experience. The apprenticeship gave me the confidence to take on greater responsibility and laid the foundations for my career in ground engineering."

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Richard Brown, HSE Advisor Originally starting as a production operative, Richard moved into quality management before joining the HSQE team. He commented: "My advice to others is to keep a positive attitude and be willing to learn every day. My time in production taught me the value of teamwork and helped me put learning into practice. Completing SSSTS sparked my interest in health and safety, which led me to progress to SMSTS and begin my career in HSQE, showing that putting yourself forward for opportunities can really shape your future."

Gareth Griffiths, Contracts Manager Gareth transitioned from site-based work to an office role. Reflecting on his progression, he said: "Starting on site as a second man and progressing into contract management has given me a strong understanding of how projects work. Having experienced site challenges first-hand helps me plan jobs more effectively and support teams in the right way. My advice to new starters is to use your site experience to set projects up properly, your role is to make the job easier for the people delivering it."

Daniel Smith, Senior Contracts Engineer Daniel began as a Setting Out Engineer for the housing team before moving into contract management. He explained: "Starting out on site as a Setting Out Engineer has shaped the way I approach contract management today. Experiencing first-hand how programmes shift, drawings change, and small issues can escalate quickly taught me to review contracts and scopes with a practical, real-world mindset, not just what works on paper. That experience now guides me to prioritise clarity, early risk management, and realistic planning, ensuring commercial decisions support delivery rather than hinder it."

Scott Mills, Operations Director – General Piling Having joined Van Elle in 2009 as a pump operator, Scott has risen through the ranks to a director level. He said: "I started my career at Van Elle on site as a pump operator, learning the job from the ground up. Over time, I worked across multiple roles, from testing and ground investigation through to contract management, gaining a broad understanding of both operations and people. That experience has been invaluable in my role today as Operations Director, helping me support our teams and build strong relationships with colleagues and clients. Coming in at grassroots level allowed me to build strong relationships and gain hands-on experience that still shapes how I lead today.

"My advice to anyone starting out is simple: be honest, work hard, stay safe and never shy away from a challenge. Most importantly, never ask someone to do something you wouldn't be willing to do yourself."