This month, meet Conal Wade…

Conal, aged 21, works with Brims Construction Ltd – he is currently Site Manager at Neville Hall.  Brims Construction Ltd are leading on the redevelopment of the Grade II* listed building, soon to be launched as The Common Room in November this year.

Conal left school at 16 to study a BTEC Level 3 in Construction Engineering Management at Newcastle College. Whilst studying full time, Conal was keen to get as much experience as possible and completed work experience with BAM Construction and Wates Construction, finishing up with an NVQ Level 3 in Construction Contracting at the age of 18.

Conal, keen to continue his career into the engineering industry, enrolled onto PlanBEE with Gateshead College; this traineeship consisted of a consortium of employers and professional bodies, offering students the opportunity to work across the different sectors in the industry, including Contracting, Architecture, Geotechnical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Structural Engineering.

During this traineeship, Conal worked with some of the region’s leading organisations including Arup, Ryder Architecture, Sir Robert McAlpine, Brims Construction Ltd; whilst getting some real hands-on career experience, Conal also completed both his HNC and HND in ‘Construction and the Built Environment’.

Photo of Conal Wade in the Nicholas Wood Memorial Hall

After the two year course, Conal was successful in his application to work for Brims Construction. Conal says,”When I joined Brims I was excited for a new challenge and looked forward to being part of the ambitious team”. Brims, keen to invest in Conal and his future, are sponsoring his degree in Construction Engineering Management, which he works at alongside his busy day job. Through his role at Brims, Conal has had experience in working on several projects, including his first solo opportunity to run a refurbishment project at the University of Sunderland’s Reg Vardy Centre and of course, most recently, as Site Manager for the redevelopment of Neville Hall.

Conal says, ”I have passed Neville Hall countless times without realising the history and grandeur hidden behind its façade. I look forward to the project’s completion and seeing the building used to its full potential – I feel honoured to be a part of its restoration.”

We are thrilled to be working with Conal and excited to follow his career in engineering.