Careers in construction extend far beyond what’s visible on site.
As part of National Careers Week, we’re sharing stories from across AG Wilson to highlight the wide range of skills, backgrounds and career pathways that contribute to delivering successful infrastructure projects.
Brody’s placement experience shows how business, sustainability and governance play a vital role in the construction industry and how meaningful impact can be made even at an early stage of a career.
Background / Role
I am a Business Studies student at Ulster University currently undertaking my placement year with AG Wilson Civil Engineering.
My primary role has involved supporting the development of systems to measure and analyse Scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon emissions, contributing to the organisation’s wider sustainability strategy and environmental goals. I also work alongside the SHEQ team, assisting with desktop audits, integrated management system (IMS) activities and KPI monitoring, which has given me practical exposure to governance, performance measurement and continuous improvement within a live business environment.
Experience
The placement has provided an excellent opportunity to experience how strategy and operations connect within a busy construction and civil engineering business. Working across different sites and projects has shown me how varied delivery environments can be, and how adaptable teams need to be to maintain consistent standards.
What surprised me most was the scale of planning, coordination and documentation required behind the scenes. Seeing how multiple teams collaborate to ensure projects are delivered safely, efficiently and sustainably has changed my understanding of what successful project delivery really involves.
Outcomes / Learning
This placement has significantly accelerated my professional development. I have strengthened my technical skills in Excel, using data analysis to support carbon accounting and reporting processes, and developed confidence in professional communication through daily collaboration across departments using Microsoft Teams and Outlook.
A key learning has been understanding how sustainability is embedded into wider business functions such as supply chain management, SHEQ processes and operational performance. The carbon tracking tools I helped develop are now being used to support baseline reporting and continuous improvement discussions, which has given me a strong sense of contributing to meaningful organisational outcomes.
Working in a live business environment has also helped me appreciate the value of accurate data and clear communication in supporting decision-making and long-term strategy.
Reflection / Advice
The placement has shown me that while core business principles remain consistent across sectors, understanding industry-specific processes requires curiosity, adaptability and willingness to learn from others. Taking ownership of tasks and asking questions has been central to building confidence and developing professionally.
My advice to future placement students would be to engage with as many areas of the business as possible and look beyond your immediate role to understand the bigger picture. Some of the most valuable lessons come from seeing how your work contributes to wider organisational goals.
Overall, this experience has strengthened both my technical and professional capabilities, broadened my understanding of sustainability in practice, and helped shape my career direction by showing how meaningful impact can be made even at an early stage of professional development.