Career Advice

How to be a … Quantity Surveyor

Quantity surveyor jobs are in demand across the country, thanks to a growing number of high-profile projects taking place. Read on to get career advice on the skills you’ll need to enter this field and to discover whether a career as a quantity surveyor is the right fit for you. RATES £18-45k HOT SPOTS Hinkley Point C / HS2 QUALIFICATIONS Degree (RICS, APC) What do quantity surveyor jobs involve? Quantity surveyors are responsible for overseeing construction projects of all shapes and sizes. In this role, you’ll seek to keep costs down and maximise value for money, while ensuring the project meets all the necessary standards and requirements. You’ll also play a key role is managing and minimising risks. On a day-to-day basis, your responsibilities can include: Preparing contract documents Completing costs analysis Performing risk assessments Monitoring subcontractors Providing advice on legal matters Working out bills of quantities and costs of materials Writing progress reports and more. What is a quantity surveyor’s salary? Quantity surveyor jobs vary in salary, depending on the employer and scope of the project you’re working on. As well as your level of experience and any additional qualifications you may have. Completing professional qualifications and gaining chartered status is an excellent way to maximise your earning potential. Starting salaries for quantity surveyors usually range from around £18,000 to £30,000. This figure increases as you progress through your career. More experienced professionals in senior quantity surveyor positions can see their salaries go up to anywhere between £45,000 and £80,000. Performance-led bonuses are common in this field, giving you additional opportunities to boost your salary if you hit your targets. These figures are intended as a guideline only. What skills do I need to be a Quantity Surveyor? To be successful, quantity surveyor jobs require you to be able to think both practically and creatively and be able to come up with unique and innovative solutions to problems. You’ll need to be highly organised, and confident in your planning and multitasking abilities. You will be seen as a primary contact for a wide range of stakeholders in the project, so good written and verbal communication skills are essential. Leadership skills are also important as you’ll need to be able to motivate those around you on site. To be able to keep track of costs and ensure the project remains on budget, you’ll need strong numeracy and financial management skills. As well as the ability to utilise a range of sophisticated IT packages. Finally, you’ll need an in-depth knowledge of construction processes, materials and legislation, and a willingness to keep this knowledge up-to-date. What qualifications do I need? There are a number of different routes you can take into this field. One of the most common is to complete a degree accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). While there are undergraduate degrees available in quantity surveying, you don’t have to have studied this to enter the field. If you have studied a different subject, you can complete a postgraduate conversion course that has been accredited by the RICS. While your first degree can be in any subject, certain areas will be more useful in providing background knowledge, such as construction, civil engineering, mathematics and geography. If you don’t have a degree, it is possible to enter this field at a lower level, via an apprenticeship scheme, and work your way up by completing extra qualifications. To become a fully qualified chartered surveyor, you’ll need to be a member of RICS and complete the Assessment of Professional Competence (APC). What are the hours and conditions? The working hours can differ according to your employer and project. If you’re working as a contractor on-site, you can expect to work from around 7.30am to 6pm. Whereas if you’re in private practice of local government, your hours may fit more within the standard 9 to 5. You may also be required to work some evenings and weekends to meet deadlines. Your time will be split between an office, which may be on or off-site and away from your desk, where the actual construction work is taking place. This means travel will be a regular occurrence, as well as some time spent away from home. Career progression The best way to progress your career is to work towards becoming a chartered quantity surveyor. Achieving chartered status demonstrates to potential employers and the wider industry that you’re a highly capable, experienced individual. This makes it much easier to move into senior or consultancy positions. There are a number of other industry bodies you can become a member of to further your career: Association of Cost Engineers (ACostE) Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors (ICES). Areas of specialism Another way to move forward in your career is to specialise in a certain area, becoming an expert in that field. Popular areas for quantity surveyors to specialise in include project management, planning, risk assessment, supply chain demand and contract disputes. To browse our opportunities across the sector click here.
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Social Media Day | How to use social to boost your job search opportunities

It’s Social Media Day tomorrow and to celebrate the occasion, we thought we would put together our top tips for getting the most out of your job search using social channels. According to a survey, 70% of employers use social media to screen candidates before hiring an individual and 57% admit that they are less likely to offer an interview to an individual if they do not have an online presence. This list is by no means exclusive, but just a couple of ideas on how you can use social media to get a job and boost your chances of opportunities coming your way. The chances are if you’re looking for a job at the moment and you’re only using social media to share pictures of your lunch, you’re doing it wrong. First up… LINKEDIN Known as probably one of the most useful tools to use when you are searching for a new role. LinkedIn can help you connect with future employers, network, build your brand and basically act as an online CV. The first and most important factor to check off is to ensure that your information is up-to-date and that it shows you and your work experience, in the best light possible. This includes: Having a catchy bio written up to engage the reader from the beginning Including an up-to-date list of your experiences and past employment responsibilities Your education and skills section up-to-date and tailored to the role you would like to secure the job in A number of endorsements to show you know what you’re talking about Relevant interests listed Most importantly, your contact details. Because you need to make it super easy for a recruiting manager/recruiter to contact you Secondly, you need to ensure you remain an active user of LinkedIn and engage with your network. Like, comment, share, whatever you fancy. Just make sure you get your name out there. TWITTER Similarly to using LinkedIn, to increase the chances of job opportunities coming your way, you need to engage in conversation as much as possible. If you attend an event related to your field, tweet about it. Written a blog? Share it! TOP TIP: Use hashtags that are related to your field to highlight your tweets to the most relevant people! KEEP IT PROFESSIONAL It’s great to share as much as possible, but it’s also very important to remember that many companies have access to your social media accounts and when considering you for a position, they can check out what you’ve been posting. Make sure you refrain from posting anything that could be taken the wrong way or could go against you. CREATE AN ONLINE CV OR PORTFOLIO Depending on your industry, creating an online portfolio on websites such as PortfolioBox can be a great way to showcase your skills and achievements. From there you can include the link on your other social accounts for consistency, you can even include it as a link on your CV. Not only does it show your commitment to the industry, it shows that you have a good knowledge of IT and key trends too. JOIN SOCIAL MEDIA GROUPS Joining a variety of groups relating to your career interests is a great way to network and meet more people within the industry who could open doors for you. You never know, some people may even post job opportunities directly to the page so you will find opportunities that you otherwise wouldn’t have found. Whilst social media can go a long way in helping you secure your dream job, your CV is important too. Read our top tips to CV success here. And when you’re ready, browse Morson’s job opportunities to kick-start your job hunt and progress your career.
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How to become a … Construction Manager

There is an increasing number of construction manager jobs available in the UK construction industry for talented managers. Read on to find out more about the skills required and to see if the role is the right fit for you. RATES £35-70k HOT SPOTS Hinkley Point C / HS2 QUALIFICATIONS HND/HNC, Degree What do construction manager jobs involve? A construction engineer or manager, sometimes referred to as a site manager, is in charge of pretty much everything that occurs on a building site. One of the most senior people to be found on-site, you’ll be in charge of organising the work, ensuring it is completed safely, on time and within budget. Your day-to-day activities can vary, from hiring staff and going over plans with architects, surveyors and engineers to planning work schedules, monitoring progress and reporting back to clients. You’ll be the main point of contact on-site, both for subcontractors and the general public. What is a construction manager’s salary? As a construction manager, your salary can vary, depending on the area, project and employer you’re working for. At the start of your career you can expect to earn between £27,000 and £33,000 per year, with this increasing to £35,000 – £50,000 as you gain more experience. Construction managers at the peak of their career, especially senior or chartered managers, can often see their salary go up to £70,000 per year. These figures are intended as a guideline only. What skills do I need? First and foremost, a successful construction manager needs excellent communication and leadership skills, as you’ll be interacting with a number of different people and need the ability to motivate a team. You’ll also need a good understanding and awareness of health and safety procedures to ensure a safe work environment is maintained. Planning, decision-making and problem-solving skills are essential, in order to handle the day-to-day running of a construction site and to overcome any potential obstacles you may face throughout a project. Maths and IT skills are also important. You’ll need an in-depth knowledge of various building methods and be competent using project management and financial computer software. What qualifications do I need? Construction manager jobs usually need a HND/HNC, a foundation degree or degree in a relevant area, such as building engineering, architecture studies, civil engineering, construction management or construction engineering. You’ll also need to have considerable work experience in the industry. Alternatively, you can apply for a Modern Apprenticeship through the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), after studying a number of subjects such as English, maths, science and technology. You can then study part-time for a HNC/HND. You’ll also need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card to work on a construction site, and will need to have passed a health and safety test. What are the hours and conditions? You’ll usually work around 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Sometimes you may need to work overtime at evenings or weekends to meet tight deadlines as and when the project requires it. You’ll spend a lot of time travelling between job sites and meeting contractors and clients, so be prepared for long days on the road and time spent away from home. Working on-site can be dusty, noisy and dangerous. A lot of your time will be spent outdoors, meaning you’ll face all manner of different weather conditions. As with any on-site work, you’ll be required to wear protective clothing, such as hardhats, safety boots, ear protection and goggles. Career progression With time, experience and additional training, there are a number of opportunities for progression in your career. Some people choose to move into contract management or consultancy, while others move into senior or project management positions. Alternatively, you could move into support services, such as health and safety or building inspection. An excellent way to improve your career progression prospects is to attain chartered status. The Chartered Institute of Building is an industry body that offers a number of different membership options to help you boost your career. To browse our opportunities across the sector click here.
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How to become a … Welder

With large amounts of investment in infrastructure and a variety of major projects currently underway, there are fantastic welding jobs where you can gain valuable welding experience in the UK construction industry. With heavy investment in infrastructure, companies are currently recruiting for welders to work on company based projects and for time served welders to join client-based projects. Read below to find out more about the skills and experience you’ll need and to discover whether a welder career is the right fit for you. RATES £16-35k dependent on experience HOT SPOTS Hinkley Point C / HS2 QUALIFICATIONS ABC, City & Guilds, BTEC, NVQ What do welding jobs involve? Welders can work in a range of different industries and on a variety of projects. You could be working on large-scale projects such as commercial buildings or bridge structures or on smaller, more intricate work such as individual components in a production line or repair work. Welding jobs revolve around cutting, shaping and joining separate pieces of metal, alloys and composite materials like plastics together. You’ll utilise several different welding and joining processes to get the job done, including arc, TIG and MIG welding. You’ll need to read and interpret engineering instructions and engineers drawings, then follow these to cut materials into the necessary shapes and then weld them together. You’ll need to utilise precision measuring equipment to inspect and test all cuts and joints, ensuring a high degree of accuracy. What is a welder’s salary? A welder’s salary can vary, depending on the location, scale and nature of the project you’re working on, as well as from one employer to the next. Starting out, you can expect to receive a salary of between £16,000 and £19,000 per year, with this rising to between £20,000 and £30,000 as you gain more experience and progress in your career as a skilled welder. The most experienced welders – those in senior or specialist positions at the peak of their career – can often earn up to £35,000 per year. Self-employed welders can set their own rates, meaning your annual salary may vary. These figures are intended as a guideline only and actual salary figures may vary. What skills do I need? As a welder, you’ll need an excellent eye for detail and the ability to understand and follow complex technical engineering plans. Due to the nature of the work, good levels of hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity are essential, as well as general physical fitness. In terms of previous experience, Maths and arithmetic skills are also important to enable you to work out measurements and angles, and ensure wasted materials are minimised. You’ll need knowledge of various welding techniques and health and safety procedures, and be confident working both on your own and as part of a wider team. What qualifications do I need? There are a number of welder qualifications, one of the most common routes into a welding career is through an apprenticeship. This gives you the opportunity to earn practical experience and learn the skills needed for your career, all while being paid. To gain entry to an apprenticeship scheme, you’ll usually need at least 4 GCSEs at grade C or higher, including Maths, English and Science. After completing an apprenticeship, you could then apply for a role as a trainee welder to gain further experience. Alternatively, you could choose to gain a specific welding qualification, such as the ABC Certificate in Fabrication and Welding Practice, City & Guilds Certificate in Welding and the BTEC National Diploma in Manufacturing Engineering (Welding and Fabrication). Once you are working, there are a number of NVQs you can study to further your training, including: Fabrication and Welding Engineering – levels 2 and 3 Performing Engineering Operations – levels 1 and 2 Fabrication and Welding – level 3 You’ll need a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card if you’re going to be working on a building site. What are the hours and conditions? In a full-time role, you can expect to work between 35 and 50 hours per week, Monday to Friday. However, shift work is also common and you may be expected to work overtime on evenings and weekends, as and when the project requires it. The conditions you work in can vary depending on the industry or project you’re working on, but you can expect it to be hot, noisy and dirty. You may have to work in cramped spaces, or outside in all weather conditions. Protective equipment, such as gloves, face-shields, helmets and boots are essential, with some roles also requiring safety harnesses. Career progression With enough experience and additional training, there are a number of different routes for progression in welding jobs, providing you with fantastic opportunity for development. If you’re willing to put in the time and effort you could advance to become a foreman, supervisor or workshop manager. You could also move into testing, inspection or quality control. Areas of specialism Talented welders are in high demand across multiple sectors, and because most welding skills are transferable, you have a lot of options when it comes to specialising in a specific area – from civil engineering and construction to shipbuilding and vehicle manufacturing. To search for opportunities across the sector click here. Or, browse our dedicated HS2 and Hinkley Point C pages for more information.
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Morson Launch Forces Resettlement Guide with Veteran Andy Reid

Andy Reid's Resettlement Plan | Morson are thrilled to launch our recruitment resettlement guide on the centenary of the RAF. Written in partnership with veteran and Morson Forces Ambassador Andy Reid, the guide aims to aid ex-forces members transition to civilian employment. Including features such as 'Preparing to Leave the Armed Forces - Andy's Ten Step Guide' plus CV and interview tips and more light hearted content such as the 'Armed Forces to Civvy Jargon Buster' the plan aims to be informative and relatable. Click here to get your copy of Andy Reid's Resettlement Plan Speaking about the project Andy reiterated how passionate he is about using his personal experiences to support veterans once they leave the armed forces - As a veteran of The 3rd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment and Morson Forces Ambassador, I know first-hand how difficult it can be to transition from the armed forces into a normal, civilian life. Ex-forces personnel have a lot to offer in the civilian world, often in ways they won’t immediately realise. It is my aim to bridge the gap between these two worlds so veterans are ready to become skilled, sought-after candidates ready to transition into work. One of the main things I noticed when appearing at career transition events as a Morson forces ambassador is the language barrier between ex-forces personnel and the recruiters who are looking to help them. This guide is designed to offer some help to veterans as they look to take their first steps in the civilian world. In particular, I’ll walk you through some of my top tips for preparing to leave the armed forces. I attend careers events with Morson across the country, so come along and we’ll help you take those first steps into your new life. Click here to get your copy of Andy's Resettlement Plan. Get #MoreFromMorson and search our latest jobs or to find out more about how Morson can support ex-forces personnel, visit our Morson Forces page.
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3 Engineering Feats That Make Wimbledon Possible

The World Cup certainly gave us some surprises this summer and Wimbledon has had one or two of its own, with favourite Roger Federer knocked out in the quarterfinals. As Andy Murray sits in the commentary box, hopes for a thrilling semi-final rest on Nadal and Djokovic as they go toe to toe on the grass this afternoon. However, none of this would be possible without the behind the scenes engineering innovations that make the game so great. We take a look at three of these: Hawk-eye Hawk-Eye has been an integral part of tennis since 2002 and continues to truly enhance the game for federations, tournaments, broadcasters, sponsors, academics and fans. Used in over 80 tournaments around the world, Hawk-Eye’s ITF approved Electronic Line Calling service takes the doubt out of close line calls by using the most sophisticated and accurate (to the millimetre) ball tracking cameras to identify whether a ball has bounced in or out. Using a technology called Computer Vision (central to speed cameras and robotics), the system measures the bounce point of the ball relative to the global coordinates of the tennis court, and then tries to infer the position of that bounce point relative to the line. These ball location estimates are then combined with ball ballistics (i.e. the rise in temperature caused by the collision of the ball on the ground). This electronic judging mostly gets it right - more often than humans do - but there are no absolutes. Centre Court Roof Gone are the days of having to watch the game at Wimbledon under a murky, rain-filled sky with the new all-weather multi-million-pound motorised roof. The enclosed environment that took three years to build provides the players with fantastic and most importantly, dry playing conditions when the weather is unfavourable. The translucent roof takes a total of eight minutes to close, controlled by variable-speed drivers to ensure it moves at no more than 214mm per second. It weighs a staggering 3,000 tonnes and stands 16 metres above the court surface. Andre Agassi, Steffi Graf, Tim Henman and Kim Clijsters were the first players to play under the new structure, which opened on 17th May 2009. Real-Time Performance Data In professional tennis, players and coaches can now access real-time performance data on an iPad during live match play. The software provides insight to help players and coaches analyse the performance of players and optimise the strategy accordingly. It could potentially be the difference between winning and losing a match – or even a championship. At the Wimbledon 2017 championship, it is estimated that a huge 53,713,514 data points were analysed. The data is used in many different ways including delivering historical perspective, live stats, predictive analytics, serve direction and much more. To find your next opportunity, search our latest engineering jobs. To keep up-to-date with the latest from our #TeamMorson ambassadors and sporting news, follow our Twitter page @MorsonGroup and Instagram @weare_morson.
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What Business Can Learn from England’s World Cup Success

England’s World Cup campaign was a massive surprise to the nation as they made it to the semi- finals for the first time since 1990. Much of the team consisted of players who are far from the era of superstars of Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney, with stand outs this time being the likes of Jordan Pickford, Harry Kane and Harry Maguire. We look at how diversity, unity and the confidence to challenge convention can lead to success on the pitch and in business. Developing talent Experiencing successes and failures is a key way to develop an agile and resilient team. Most of England’s squad have been willing to adapt from a young age while moving up the pyramid system where they have made mistakes that have been integral to their growth. A key example in the England national side is Jordan Pickford, who played regular football at the likes of Carlisle United and Bradford City before returning to his loan club, Sunderland and earning a move to Everton. This steady progress made the transition through the league systems seamless due to the experience and freedom to learn being available. Having an environment where young players/employees are free to find their feet and thrive rather than be in a restricted atmosphere will allow them to be more assertive and confident in their decision making through hands on experience. Diversity On the other hand, the side also contained young talent that have been nurtured by some of Europe’s top sides from the youth developmental system such as Marcus Rashford and Trent Alexander Arnold. Both have only experienced football at its highest level at each stage of their career, meaning that they will most likely have been taught to deal with high pressure situations from a young age. This diversity of people from different backgrounds is essential for success in the work place also, as a team of individuals from the same background in terms of their professional experiences wouldn’t see as much innovation as a group of individuals who bring different life experiences to the table. Challenge convention The decision in terms of who made the final squad for the World Cup is also a great example of how challenging conventions and taking risks are necessary to succeed in any career. Gareth Southgate threw away the idea of big name players making the list purely for their past success, instead rewarding players the opportunity for their stellar seasons alone. The inclusion of the likes of Ashley Young, Kieran Trippier and Ruben Loftus Cheek initially raised eyebrows for their inclusions due to their lack of high level international experience. All three men have performed brilliantly and have proven that it is wise to find comfort in the uncomfortable and to make decisions that may not please everybody but you feel are correct in the long run. Unity The closeness of the England squad throughout the World Cup has been abundantly clear. Their commitment to each other and working for the good of the team has been obvious both on and off the pitch and has paid dividends. It’s a stark contrast to previous years - Rio Ferdinand has previously stated that he found it difficult to be friends with England players in rival teams. This can also be directly linked to success for businesses as according to research from Gallup, employees that feel a great connection with members of their team are more likely to take positive actions that will benefit the business. Even though England didn’t go all the way, there are many positives that we can take and build upon both on the pitch and in the board room. #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ #mc_embed_signup{background:#cc1f32; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ #mc_embed_signup{background:#cc1f32; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */
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The High and Low's of Job Hunting Told in Emoji's | World Emoji Day

Today we celebrate #WorldEmojiDay (yes, there's literally a day for anything). From the depths of current job boredom, to the nerves of interview and elation of an offer - we chart the emotional rollercoaster that is a job search with the help of our expressive friends > Top links: Ready to start your job search? Search our latest jobs Get interview ready with Morson's Interview Tips Read up on the latest career advice Get industry news and the latest insights from Morson in the Candidate Hub Get found by our recruiters - create a candidate profile Register your CV and create job alerts to get relevant job direct to your inbox require(["mojo/signup-forms/Loader"], function(L) { L.start({"baseUrl":"mc.us12.list-manage.com","uuid":"70b8229547533b3af4724b408","lid":"28a6020019"}) })
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Preparing to Leave the Armed Forces | Andy's Ten Step Guide

As a veteran of The 3rd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment and Morson ex-forces ambassador, Andy Reid knows first-hand how difficult it can be to transition from the armed forces into a normal, civilian life. Ex-forces personnel have a lot to offer in the civilian world, often in ways that they won’t immediately realise. Therefore, Andy’s aim is to bridge the gap between these two worlds and from his own experiences, offer some help to veterans as they look to transition into new careers. He shares some of his top tips for preparing to leave the armed forces which will help you take those first steps into your new life: ANDY’S TEN STEP GUIDE Prepare in advance. The key to getting the best start to your new civilian life is to plan early – the earlier, the better. Don’t leave anything until the last few months. It’s not just a new start for you, it’s a new start for your family, too. Living arrangements. Think about where you are going to live. What is the housing like in the area? What are employment opportunities like in the area? Is there a provision for veterans? There are organisations out there that prioritise veterans for rentals and shared ownership housing. Step Forward Homes is a great resource www.stepforwardhomes.com. Get online. There are a lot of employers who recruit for key personnel through the networking platform, LinkedIn, so be sure to create a profile and document your experience. The best part about it is that’s free, and your online CV will be viewable by anyone. It’s also key to try and ‘translate’ your military experience into civilian terms, so potential employers can see what you might be able to offer. Have an open mind. Don’t just think security is the only option. For example, I’ve been helping Morson place ex-forces candidates in the rail and aerospace sectors based on the experience they already have in the military. Time served gives candidates valuable skills in teamwork, strategy and work ethic. Many employers recognise this and will be prepared to upskill you in the technical elements of the role. Be diligent. Make sure you get everything you are entitled to, like job-hunting leave and travel expenses. Also, most importantly, take part in the career transition workshop course. If nothing else, it will get your CV in order. Communicate. Speak to friends who are already out of the armed forces and get as much advice from them as possible by people who have already been through the process or are currently going through it. Network. Network. Networking on Civvy Street is key. Don’t be afraid to do a job that might not be part of your long-term plan, you can gain contacts and experience that will set you in good stead for the future. Attend events. Go to as many recruitment and jobs fairs as possible. Speak to people on the stands and other delegates, their insight can be invaluable. Morson regularly attends CTP and BFRS job fairs and help hundreds of ex-forces personnel each year. Train up. Consider doing a night course or online course if you have an idea of what you might want to do but lack the necessary technical skills. There are many free courses and events which can upskill you, keep an eye on Eventbrite www.eventbrite.com to find business events in your area. Think about the future. Don’t forget to make sure you have your pension in order. Think hard about the options that are presented to you and consider which would be best for you. Also, don’t forget your pension is taxable. Click here to get your copy of Andy's Resettlement Plan. Get #MoreFromMorson and search our latest jobs or to find out more about how Morson can support ex-forces personnel, visit our Morson Forces page.
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Morson Apprentice Wins Engineering Apprentice of the Year

Morson apprentice Casey Wells was been honoured with two awards at the West Suffolk Celebration of Achievement evening, which showcases the best of local young engineering talent. Casey, who has been working on Morson’s contract with Leonardo Helicopters at Wattisham Flying Station, was nominated for Engineering Apprentice of the Year but was unaware that he had also won another award, the College Apprentice of the Year award. Casey was thrilled and surprised to be nominated. “I was very proud to be told that I’d be nominated for the first award and then ecstatic to be told I’d won! The other award was kept a secret until the moment they ready out the winner. When I heard my name I couldn’t believe it and I couldn’t stop smiling!” Casey started working at Wattisham in 2016 and has worked on a wide variety of projects amongst many different teams, with a focus on the Apache Attack Helicopter. “I cannot thank the people I work with enough for sharing their wealth and knowledge with me. I have also had great support from Morson’s HR department since being at Wattisham” he said. Susan Watts, resource support manager for Morson at Wattisham Flying Station, said “I’m delighted to see Casey win not one but two awards. Apprenticeships are a core part of what we do at Morson and to have a double award-winning apprentice as part of the team is a fantastic testament to this." Casey is currently undertaking his second of three years to attain an NVQ and a BTEC in Aeronautical Engineering. require(["mojo/signup-forms/Loader"], function(L) { L.start({"baseUrl":"mc.us12.list-manage.com","uuid":"70b8229547533b3af4724b408","lid":"28a6020019"}) }) For more information on Morson apprenticeships, click here.
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Graduation for First Gerry Mason Engineering Excellence Scholars

The first graduates from the Gerry Mason Engineering Excellence Scholarship receive their awards this week in front of the family that have supported their success. The scholars – Yasir Alrufaee, Hamza Evans, James Kelly and Lewis Smith – have been funded throughout their degree by Gerry Mason, founder of Morson International. Sadly, Gerry passed away shortly after pledging £270,000 to support the students, but his wife Margaret, son Ged and daughters Natasha, Sara and Carmen have continued his legacy of support and attended the students’ Graduation at The Lowry on Tuesday, July 17. Gerry’s generosity enables talented young people who would otherwise be deterred from university because of the tuition fees and living costs, to pursue an engineering degree. Graduate in Aircraft Engineering with Pilot Studies, Hamza Evans, said: “A huge financial burden was lifted thanks to the scholarship. Not having the financial support from my parents would have meant me working really long hours to support myself, and cut into my study time. “Visiting the Morson offices was the most amazing experience. It was an honour to meet with Gerry’s son Ged (now CEO of the company) and for him to give us so much of his time.” The Mason family have since funded 10 students in 2016-17 and 15 in 2017-18 bringing the total number of scholarships to 30 and allowing students to study one of 13 engineering programmes at Salford University, including Civil, Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering. Three female engineers are among the latest recruits in 2017 which is great news not only for them but for Morson which has pledged to double the number of female engineers it employs by 2020. Currently, Morson has more than 1,800 female contractors working across the globe, yet specifically in engineering, the number of women compared to men sits at just 7.5 per cent. Ged Mason explains: “The family is naturally delighted to see my father’s legacy live on and witness Yasir, James, Lewis and Hamza graduating and looking forward to the next step in their career in engineering. “Our partnership with Salford University is delivering real change by attracting new talent to technical sectors and developing the next generation of engineers.” Find your next engineering opportunity. Search the latest engineering jobs with Morson. require(["mojo/signup-forms/Loader"], function(L) { L.start({"baseUrl":"mc.us12.list-manage.com","uuid":"70b8229547533b3af4724b408","lid":"28a6020019"}) })
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Top Jobs on Britain’s Highways | Highways Jobs

Highway Engineers ensure people and products move around the country quickly and safely on everything from roads to canals. Civil Engineers and more specifically, individuals that can work on Britain’s highways are in high demand due to a number of high profile infrastructure projects and the development of our transport systems around the country. To put it simply, if you’re a Highways Engineer, your skills are extremely desirable to employers within the engineering industry. So, you’re a trained Highways Engineer and you’re trying to work out your next career move? To omit some of the confusion and help you to find your dream role, we decided to take a look at some of the top highways jobs: HIGHWAY BRIDGE ENGINEER WAGE: £40,000 - £50,000 Bridge engineers work on a variety of projects including designing and building bridges from scratch and also maintaining or rehabilitating older bridges. Often Bridge Engineers are required to perform mathematical calculation studies to ensure that the bridges on our highways perform the way that they are supposed to. However, the development of technology and tools enables engineers to do this job quickly and easily. The role involves a large amount of travelling to each individual construction zone and you can often be faced with challenging questions about the bridges that you are working on so good communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively is very important. HIGHWAY DESIGN ENGINEER WAGE: £25,000 - £70,000 Highway Design Engineers deliver detailed design support to infrastructure projects and systems including roads, airports, highways, tunnels, bridges and many more. This is a great first role to kick-start your career as many Highway Design Engineers start in graduate positions earning around £25,000 with excellent opportunities to progress once you have the experience behind you. HIGHWAY DRAINAGE ENGINEER WAGE: £25,000 – £50,000 Drainage engineers specialise in water drainage systems in fields such as transportation, water management, residential and industrial markets. Jobs may include working on highway drainage for minor and major roads or undertaking the flood risk. Because they spend much of their time on construction sites, they must be comfortable working outdoors in variable weather conditions. HIGHWAYS ENGINEER WAGE: £20,000 - £40,000 Highways Engineers are the backbone of our transport system as they oversee the building, highway maintenance and repair of the highways we use every day. With lots of variety in your working day, you could be working on larger projects like redesigning road links or smaller highway projects like building dropped kerbs. They are often responsible for a highways team of staff and it is their job to make sure that any construction work is carried safely and to plan. Ready to find your dream job? Click here to browse the opportunities we have available in structures and highways. require(["mojo/signup-forms/Loader"], function(L) { L.start({"baseUrl":"mc.us12.list-manage.com","uuid":"70b8229547533b3af4724b408","lid":"28a6020019"}) })
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