Testimonials

Anyone starting full-time work for the first time will find it a bit of a challenge. But I really felt I was welcomed by the staff at Balfour Kilpatrick’s head office – and although I was the youngest in the office at the time, I was treated equally. That was back in August 2003. joined straight after uni and I haven’t looked back since. My lecturers and careers advisors at university encouraged me to go for the job at BK as they’d heard so many positive things about the company.

I have always had an engineering mind since childhood. I used to think, if it ain’t broke, then break it and try to fix it! Now I find myself faced with daily challenges which I enjoy finding the best possible solutions for. I’m now looking forward to finishing off the project at Heathrow T5. I’ve seen it through from beginning to end, and this has given me invaluable experience. Hopefully I’ll also achieve chartered status soon.

Here we have access to information, on the job training and business contacts that are invaluable and not easily gained elsewhere. Some of the international work BK has done is also very prestigious and a real attraction if you’re seriously into your engineering. Also the history of the company – starting as a family company and becoming what it is today, internationally known and widely respected – makes you feel you’re working for the best in the best. And it means a lot to be part of and contribute to the growth of good well established company.

I saw BK as a well-established company, respected in their field, with an excellent training programme and prospects, and decided this was a chance for me to build a long-term career. Although my degree is in Mechanical Engineering, I felt working with BK would allow me to apply my knowledge to a different engineering discipline and gain a wider understanding of engineering and project management in general.

It was apparent from my very first day that I had been brought in to fill an important role in the company and that I would be allowed to really spread my wings here. Now I am hopefully about to start studying for my MSc, with Balfour Kilpatrick’s support, and become a Chartered Building Services Engineer. I’ve also successfully completed my first major assignment as a project engineer.

Work here is varied, which keeps me busy, and makes the whole package all the more enjoyable. I get the chance to work on projects that make a real difference to the lives of everyday people, whilst receiving the support to develop professionally. This takes enthusiasm, ambition, hard work, loyalty – but it is all richly rewarded.

From a young age I was always interested in engineering and construction, so when I joined Balfour Kilpatrick in 2002, as a Mechanical Craft Modern Apprentice, I was really looking forward to the challenge ahead. When I walked onto my first construction site, it was a big shock, as it was very different to what I had expected, coming straight out of school. I never thought that apprentice job would lead to me studying for a degree in Building Services Engineering at university, with the support of Balfour Kilpatrick. I hope to complete my three year training plan and continue to progress within the company. I want to be as successful as possible and Balfour Kilpatrick gives me the direction and help to achieve my aims.

Working for Balfour Kilpatrick has already allowed me to attain a level 3 NVQ in Heating and Ventilation. The company has supported me for five years and hopefully will continue to do so. In return, I always give 100% and do my very best at all times. Hopefully this will play a big part in me reaching my goal of becoming a director with the company later on in my career.

I thoroughly enjoy working here. I feel that I was rewarded for my hard work during my apprenticeship with an office role as a Technical Trainee. I saw this as a real opportunity to move forward and push myself as far as I can within the company.

Working here has helped me develop my leadership skills, but I also work as part of a team in the estimating department, where my colleague Paul Byworth and I work together to meet tender deadlines. I will continue to do my very best for Balfour Kilpatrick as I feel it is an excellent, forward moving company and I am pleased to be a part of it.

I wanted to work for a company with a strong reputation in the construction industry, a company with an excellent track record in training people and offering them the chance to learn new skills and better themselves, and a company that is going places and working on interesting and challenging projects. I knew a couple of people who worked for Balfour Kilpatrick and had lots of good things to say about the company. So I went for it, and I’ve been here ever since.

It has been a challenge from day one but I immediately enjoyed it – not only the work, but learning new skills too. Things are always changing and moving here, which keeps things interesting, and means you have to stay on your toes. Working here has allowed me to develop new skills and has given me a better understanding of the day to day commercial aspects that affect us all. It gives me great pride to work for a company who treat you with respect and make a real effort to help you to develop and progress.

Coming from a engineering background in the forces, I offer BK a hard working ethos with excellent leadership and people management skills, as well as drive and discipline. Now that I’m here I want to continue learning new skills and get on with the job to the best of my abilities.

It means a lot to me to work for Balfour Kilpatrick because they’re a well known and respected company, and I’m proud to be a part of this. I am happy that I have found such a good company at the first attempt. When I left school, all I knew for certain was that I wanted to be a Quantity Surveyor. I looked for a strong, national but locally-based company and I found Balfour Kilpatrick, basically on my doorstep.

I enjoyed the challenge of being a Trainee Quantity Surveyor right from the start. There was a lot to learn, not just about the commercial department of the company, but what everyone else does and how it all fits together to form a multinational like Balfour Kilpatrick. But I was given a lot of support from everyone, and I’ve gained experience right at the cutting edge of the industry, whilst being on day release at university where I’m hoping to gain the qualifications I need to stand me in good stead for the rest of my career.

In the next year I’m looking forward to getting started on the new Princes Quay Cinema in Hull. Hopefully in that time too, my first project will come to a close without any hiccups and at a profit.