Out of the Mouths of Babes

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10 June 2016 | Updated 01 January 1970

BSRIA test technician, Calvin Odoi, gave a presentation at Leeds College of Building as part of its careers month recently on what his experience had been.

His presentation covered details about BSRIA, role and career path to date while also covering the progression of and opportunities available in the engineering industry which included 3D printing of houses and built offsite.

Calvin outlined the work of BSRIA’s Test department which covered:

• Standard, accredited and bespoke testing for projects.
• Research, troubleshooting, witness and on-site testing.
• Product development.

“I started my apprenticeship at BSRIA in July 2013 and joined the Test Department where I have been involved with testing a variety of products associated with the building services and construction industry for performance verification purposes,” he explained. “As part of my apprenticeship I enrolled at Reading College and completed a National Diploma in Electrical & Electronic Engineering. I have recently completed my NVQ Level 3 in Electrical & Electronic Engineering and have also participated in a year-long internal BSRIA training course called the ‘people programme’, designed to develop presentation, decision making and problem solving skills.”

Calvin went on to explain that engineers and technicians touched every part of life. History had shown that those who pursued science arguably have made the biggest impact to the world. “Incredible minds provide us with incredible ideas we once might have thought of as unbelievable but are now ingrained in our society.”

He argued that this work highlighted the commitment BSRIA provides to young, bright, keen technicians and engineers who could go on to build a successful career, with the current training at BSRIA, or as he termed it, “the workforce of tomorrow”.

Opportunities in the construction industry include:

• Technical, supervisory, management and technical support opportunities.
• Site technician, building technician, site inspector, construction planner, plant technician, estimator, civil engineering technician, design technician.
• Professional roles – design, engineering, finance, management & planning.
• Planners, designers, engineers, construction managers and surveyors.
• Architectural technician, building surveyor, BIM Coordinator, revit technician.

“Calvin’s presentation proved inspiring as well as enlightening to our students who are all looking forward to progressing into Higher Education and a career in a professional role within the industry,” declared Marc Townsend, Personal Advisor/Safeguarding Officer, Student Services, Leeds College of Building. 

The presentation was seen as fitting in well with BSRIA’s INSPIRE project that is currently running throughout 2016 and includes a series of events to inspire and involve the workforce of tomorrow with what the construction industry has to offer. INSPIRE is based around the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects.

Picture: Calvin Odoi, BSRIA test technician – “Incredible minds provide us with incredible ideas we once might have thought of as unbelievable but are now ingrained in our society”

Article written by Cathryn Ellis | Published 10 June 2016

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