Ashley McCurry – GA BSc (Hons) Construction in the Built Environment
The 29-year-old from Inverness, who now lives in Aviemore, is graduating from Robert Gordon University’s Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment, with a 1st Class Hons Graduate Apprenticeship in Construction in the Built Environment.
Ashley hadn’t always believed construction was accessible to her. Whilst at Inverness Royal Academy, it had been perceived as an industry ‘for boys’. It was highly practical, involved working outside and wasn’t a good earner.
After getting a job as a project administrator for an engineering company, Ashley realised her perception was totally wrong. She loved working in the site office, getting to meet the site team and working closely with the graduate engineers.
She secured a job as a trainee Project Manager for Aviemore based civil and environmental engineering firm, McGowan Limited, and decided to apply to RGU’s GA programme to build her skills and knowledge.
“The GA was particularly attractive because it provided the academic background to the practical elements of my day-to-day responsibilities at work. RGU’s programme also appealed because of the distance learning and on campus days which gave the right balance between work and study.
“I was impressed that each of the course modules had a knowledgeable lecturer with industry experience. This made the course interesting, applicable, and relatable. Some modules also had guest speakers from industry. This added real value to my learning about live and recently completed projects. There was also the opportunity to network, and you could post on forums and learn from each other.”
“The GA also allowed you to identify and appoint a mentor within your workplace, who provided each student with a direct point of contact within your own company to support your studies. I am very grateful to my mentor, Derek Mackay, McGowan Director, who provided continued support and time over the years and was always willing to share his extensive industry knowledge and experience in response to my many questions.”
As Ashley gained more contractual and commercial awareness on RGU’s GA programme, her company promoted her from Trainee Project Manager to a more senior Graduate Quantity Surveyor role. She’s now an Assistant Quantity Surveyor and has since become a STEM ambassador for the sector. She’s hoping to inspire more girls into the construction industry and wants them to consider the many possible careers that can be pursued and how to get there, through programmes such as the GA.
Ashley has achieved all her success despite experiencing a major life event during her 3rd year when she became a mum for the first time to baby boy, Theo. Despite the challenges of early parenthood, Ashley’s steadfast ambition to succeed, combined with support from RGU’s University’s Support and Advice Services and McGowan Ltd, has helped her finish her GA.
She said: “I continued my studies as I was determined to complete my degree. The teaching staff at RGU were all very supportive. They offered additional help should I have needed it while I adjusted to being a mum, studying and all the adjustments to life that came with the COVID-19 pandemic. It made all the difference knowing that the support from them and the administration staff was there, and they were all responsive to any questions I had.
“It was challenging becoming a mum whilst studying and working and I’m still trying to find the balance between these aspects. Becoming a mum creates a whole new dimension to your original self and then learning how to look after a baby, sleep deprivation, all the feeds and nappy changes, it’s a lot. But the GA centred around distance learning, so I had the flexibility to read course work in free moments and it gave me the opportunity to use a different side of my brain from the mum side!”
Reflecting on her experience of the GA, Ashley said: “Studying whilst working has improved my ability to manage my time. I am much better at prioritising tasks and able to set aside sufficient time to complete tasks and meet deadlines – an important skill that is applicable to any aspect of my career. It’s also enhanced my communication skills, both written and verbal, which I readily apply on a daily basis, as I prepare reports for management, clients, and colleagues.
“The Graduate Apprenticeship in Construction & the Built environment has also given me an insight into all aspects of the industry and provided me with a high-level of detail that will be invaluable as I move forward in my career.
“The GA has the added benefit in that it allows you to adapt and apply course content to your specific company. The programme is also highly relevant and closely linked to the current challenges facing the construction industry. This has enhanced my skills, knowledge, and resourcefulness and given me a better understanding of the various aspects of the construction sector that I can apply in my workplace.”
With a First Class Honours under her belt, Ashley credits much of her success to RGU. She’s keen to build on her university experience and to progress up the career ladder. She is also set to present the findings from her final year dissertation that explored sustainability in small and medium construction businesses, to a global audience at the Chartered Institute of Building Academic Summit Conference, next year.
“My time at RGU has prepared me for the next step on the career ladder and given me confidence in both my academic abilities as well as the practical elements of day to day working. The GA shows employers that you have the dedication and commitment required to study and work at the same time. I would highly recommend the programme to anyone considering advancing their career in Construction Management.”