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No wrong path: Site Administrator Iona

Our 'No wrong path' series supports the Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) campaign for young people who may feel disheartened by their exam results. If that's you, or you're not sure what route to take after school, we hope the stories of employees here at Team Robertson will show that there's no right or wrong path.

You might feel in school that you need to decide your career straight away – but you can change your mind at any time. Do what makes you happy. Ten years later, after starting as an administrator and experiencing lots of different roles within the company, I am now back working as an administrator, and I enjoy every minute of it.

Tell us about your thoughts on a career after school:

In sixth year at school, I enjoyed administration and maths, and wanted to be a personal assistant in the oil and gas industry. My brother worked in the sector and the money and travel interested me. However, I needed administrative experience and qualifications, but didn’t want to move away from home at the time so didn’t see college or university as an option. 

Robertson was carrying out construction work at my high school and, just one month before my school graduation, they advertised for an apprentice administrator. I applied and spent the next two years working in Fort William on a variety of projects, completing my apprenticeship along with a SVQ Level 3 in Business Administration.

You then went on to qualify as a Quantity Surveyor?

Yes, my first couple of years at Robertson highlighted the variety of jobs and careers paths in construction. I decided I wanted to stay in the industry and set my sights on a Quantity Surveyor traineeship. Along with learning on the job I went to college in Inverness where I did a two-year block release HNC in Quantity Surveying, and from there a block release Graduate Apprenticeship BSc Degree course at Edinburgh Napier University. It was great getting to experience living in the city for a few weeks of the year and meeting so many great people. 

In 2022 I moved from Fort William to Perth and was lucky enough to get a transfer to our Tayside business. Newly qualified as a QS, I worked on a number of projects including pre-construction and small refurbishment jobs. 

There were lots of highlights but, after some months, I decided that working as a Quantity Surveyor didn’t feel like the right role for me. I saw an internal advert for a site administrator for our Perth High School construction project and felt like it was meant to be. I applied straight away and got the job.

What do you enjoy most about your site administration role?

It has a bit of everything, there are real opportunities to get involved, and I love helping people out.

I’m also a Mental Health First Aider and, along with other MHFAs, have started a running and walking club for our Tayside colleagues. I'm always out hillwalking or running so these kinds of opportunities allow me to bring my passion into the job, and to share what I know with others. I can honestly say I love going to work every day.

What’s your message for any young person disheartened by their grades or unsure what their next step should be?

You don't have to go to college or university from school. Go out there and get some work experience. Or look for an apprenticeship if there’s a job or sector that interests you, you don’t need as many grades to get started on this route.