(from left) – Andrew McGeechan, Tracey Stark, Lucy McCabe, Ben Varini

Engagement between the construction partner for the new University Hospital Monklands and New College Lanarkshire helped nurture local talent – and saw one student land a job.

Laing O’Rourke visited the college’s Motherwell campus to support the next generation of digital engineers.

Tracey Stark, Laing O’Rourke Lead Digital Engineer, said:

“We believe in building futures as well as building infrastructure.

“As part of our ongoing efforts to support employability and skills development, our team collaborated with New College Lanarkshire to deliver a pre-employability initiative to help students prepare for the world of work.

“It was designed to give students studying the Computer Aided Architectural Design and Technology course a real-world insight into the recruitment process and help them prepare for their future careers.

“The engagement began when the students ‘applied’ for a vacancy with the company, submitting their CVs and portfolios for reviews. Candidates were invited to the company’s office for mock interviews where students could practise their interview skills and receive constructive feedback on their performance.

“Our digital engineering team provided detailed feedback, offering suggestions for improvement and highlighting strengths. The successful candidates were offered a week-long work experience position to allow them to gain experience of working on a live project.

“Students got valuable insight into the hiring process, while our team had the opportunity to connect with emerging talent and strengthen ties with the local education community.

“One of the standout moments from this initiative was meeting Lucy McCabe, a passionate and driven student with a keen interest in the construction industry – particularly in digital engineering. Inspired by the new University Hospital Monklands project, Lucy expressed a desire to learn more about the field.

“Recognising her potential, we arranged a week-long work experience placement for Lucy with the Laing O’Rourke team working on the Monklands Replacement Project (MRP).

“Her enthusiasm and capability left a lasting impression and, in September, Lucy officially became an assistant digital engineer on the digital engineering team. Her journey is a shining example of how targeted outreach and mentorship can lead to meaningful career opportunities.”

A delighted Lucy said:

“Taking part in the CV review and mock interview process allowed me to gain a solid understanding of how to write a good CV, how to present myself, the hiring process and what is required to be successful.

“The process was extremely beneficial as it helped me gain full-time employment and begin my career.”

Other students have also gained jobs with the construction giant through a similar engagement pathway, including Ben Varini and Andrew McGeechan.

Ben joined the team as a trainee digital engineer in 2019 after taking part in the work experience initiative, and is now a digital build engineer.

He said:

“I’ve had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects in multiple sectors, including the MRP. Along the way I’ve found that I really enjoy being involved in the verification and validation modelling side of the business and I’m now heading up the digital build team for the project’s current site preparatory works.”

Separately, Laing O’Rourke and the MRP are partners in the delivery of the Community Benefits the hospital project generates, which include employment and training along with economic and environmental goals and community priorities.

Tracey added:

“This broader strategy aims to source local talent from North and South Lanarkshire and ensure our employment initiatives benefit the communities surrounding our projects. By investing in young people and providing them with the tools and experiences they need to succeed, we’re shaping careers and the future of our industry.”