AHEAD of Scottish Apprenticeship Week, Thomas & Adamson has highlighted the achievements of the former owner of a sports nutrition business who has embarked on a new career in construction at the age of 42.
Will Townsend is studying building surveying at the same time as gaining industry experience with Edinburgh-headquartered Thomas & Adamson, part of Egis Group. He joined the construction and property consultancy last year after selling his sports nutrition business, Active Root, which he founded in 2017. The company specialises in sports drinks, energy gels and electrolytes for athletes, but after seven years of building a business from the ground up, Will decided the time was right for a new challenge.
He has chosen to pursue a new path in the construction industry and is currently studying part-time for a RICS-accredited MSc in building surveying at Northumbria University, alongside working with Thomas & Adamson’s building surveying team and raising two young children.
Will said, “With friends and family in the construction sector, I always knew that it was something I wanted to get into. The sale of the business enabled me to take stock and explore the possibility of retraining. I was drawn to surveying because I enjoy problem solving and working with people. With my existing skills, experience and drive to learn, I knew I had the potential.
“The apprenticeship route is ideal as it allows me to study without taking a full career break to study and sacrificing my income. By working part-time alongside the course, I can learn the theory at the same time as getting practical experience. I have skills in project management and sales from running my own business, however I needed surveying qualifications and experience to take the next step. Taking an apprenticeship in my 40s has been a huge benefit in that respect and the team at Thomas & Adamson has been really supportive.
“The built environment has an impact on everyone’s lives and, for me, that’s what makes it so interesting. A project to improve the energy performance in social housing, for instance, has benefits for the people who live there as well as the environment. It is also great to get out and about to visit sites and meet new people.
“Looking ahead, I’ve got another two years of the apprenticeship to complete and then I will be working towards chartership, which I expect will take another two years. In the meantime, I’m also heading back to my old school to talk to the students there about careers in construction and inspire the next generation.”
Thomas & Adamson currently employs several apprentices and will be recruiting for new roles later this year. Each trainee is appointed a dedicated mentor, which allows them to gain insight into both the industry and the business through exposure to the range of services offered by the firm.
Hamish Paterson, director and head of building surveying at Thomas & Adamson, added, “By hiring apprentices and trainees, we are helping to shape the next generation of talent that comes into the sector, including potential future leaders. In Will’s case, having the courage to make the switch to a new career with a family to support is impressive and going down the apprenticeship route has had significant advantages compared to full-time study. The skills gap in construction is well-publicised, and providing a variety of different routes into careers in the sector is an important part of tackling the challenge.”
