Michael Hollington, 28, works as an assistant site manager at Redrow’s Greater London division and is currently midway through his second year of Redrow’s Housebuilding Degree programme. Launched by Redrow in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University (LIMU) and Coleg Cambria, the degree is the first of its kind and aims to equip participants with the vital skills needed to become a construction manager, over three years.
Michael has been employed at Redrow for four years and is currently based at the housebuilder’s flagship North West London development, Colindale Gardens. Upon completing his A-Levels, Michael took up a place at a University but unfortunately had to withdraw due to personal reasons after just five months. Michael thought his further education journey was over until his boss approached him with the opportunity to join Redrow’s degree programme. Michael said: “I am proud to say I’m in a much stronger place than where I was ten years ago, which is partly due to the fantastic support group that I have here at Redrow. The Housebuilding Degree has provided me with a second chance at attaining an academic degree, which I could never imagine would be possible.”
The three-year degree is open to both current employees with a level three qualification or a minimum of five years in the industry, as well as school leavers with three A-level pass grades of a BTEC Level 3. The degree provides candidates with a full overview of housebuilding skills, including housebuilding quality, project management, health and safety, business skills and negotiation, as well as relevant aspects of law, mathematics and economics.
In each year there are six block weeks of classroom learning which will be taught in partnership between LJMU’s Department of the Built Environment, Coleg Cambria and Redrow business experts with the rest of the contact time satisfied through classroom learning, practical site visits and tutorials. Candidates will be assessed in a variety of ways including presentations, examinations, coursework and a final year dissertation project.
Now, Michael balances his time between training at college and his role at Redrow. He said: “Not only has the degree programme motivated me to prioritise my self-development, but it has also been excellent in equipping me with the skills I need to further develop my career in the industry. Due to the way the course is structured, I’ve had the opportunity to experience jobs in other disciplines first-hand, such as customer service and land technicians. Recently I was given training in 3D modelling using a VR headset which has given me a better understanding of building design and is already hugely benefiting me in my day to day role.”
Michael joined Redrow after a stint at a smaller competitor. On his time at Redrow, he said: “I joined Redrow due to its excellent reputation for high-quality homes, and the emphasis they place on employee wellbeing. I work in a team of 20 people who motivate one another to deliver the best.”
