Last summer, we welcomed three Leonard Cheshire Change 100 interns into the business, providing them with the opportunity to learn first hand from mentors and seasoned professionals in the construction industry.
At Wates, we recognise the importance of searching for talent from a diverse range of backgrounds, and the Leonard Cheshire Change 100 scheme presented the perfect opportunity to engage with a demographic that is often underrepresented within the industry.
Isabella Smithson was one of the interns who joined Wates during the summer. The Leonard Cheshire Trust takes into consideration each intern's skills, experience, and interests, striving to match them with businesses that align well.
Isabella applied for a role at Prism, Wates offsite manufacturing facility. The work placement provided her with a complete overview and experience of all the departments within our operations – pre-construction, building information modelling design, procurement, commercial and manufacturing. Isabella quickly demonstrated an aptitude for learning and seamlessly integrated into the Prism team.
Reflecting on her internship, Isabella highlighted how rotating round the departments provided her with a deeper understanding of offsite manufacturing as she was able to see the process end-to-end. No day was every the same and over the internship she was able to develop increased technical and industry knowledge.
Completing ‘real work’ provided her with the opportunity to engage in solving the different challenges faced every day, when each project is unique. She was engaged by how fast-paced and pioneering the offsite manufacturing environment was, gaining gained insight into the importance of building relationships, communication and team working. The team had got to know Isabella through the internship, and she impressed them with her hard work and enthusiasm to understand and contribute to the business.
Shortly before her internship concluded and encouraged by her positive experience, Isabella was successful in securing a permanent role as Assistant Buyer.
Isabella’s story demonstrates the value of investing in young talent through initiatives like The Leonard Cheshire Change 100 Internships. Wates remains committed to providing meaningful opportunities that inspire individuals to explore careers in the built environment.
We look forward to welcoming more ambitious individuals who, like Isabella, can grow and thrive in a supportive and innovative environment.
“I wasn’t sure what I was getting myself into at first, but it interested me to try something new. I visited the factory as part of my interview, which allowed me to understand the challenges Prism is at addressing. Wates were flexible and supportive throughout. They recommended various reasonable adjustments, including use of spell checkers to help me write and communicate effectively and understood that I might need extra time to read and process information to be able to fulfil my work to a high standard.
The open culture and supportive and welcoming team allowed me to voice my needs and ask lots of questions. I felt like part of the team immediately.”
Isabella Smithson
