Debora Robertson
I left school after 6th year. I had wanted to go into construction and had initially decided to go to University to study Quantity Surveying. My career adviser informed me that Balfour Beatty were looking for trainee engineers. I decided to apply. I had two interviews and was offered the job. The advantage of having on-site training, gaining qualifications as well as being paid appealed to me. I would have a 4 year training scheme. The first two years attending college on day release to gain an ONC in civil engineering and a further two years attended university on day release to gain a HNC in civil engineering.
I started with Balfour Beatty on 5th September 1988. The first project I was involved in was Ellon Bypass a roadworks scheme. Initially my days were spent shadowing the engineers on site, being used as their chainperson and eventually I was shown how to use the surveying equipment and how to set out. I was then given daily setting out tasks to organise by myself. I was involved in the setting out of roads as well as the bridge and culvert.
I was then transferred to Peterhead Harbour where we were constructing 2 new quays. I gained experience in dredging, underwater concreting (batched on site), diving and harbour bed surveying. I was also placed on a first aid course by Balfour Beatty during this contract and was first aider for the site.
After Peterhead I was transferred to Aberdeen Harbour where I was involved in two projects. They both involved piling. I gained experience in vertical and raking piled beams and sheet piling. Everything from the initial frame set up to final set of the piles. Both harbour projects gave me my first real insight into the safety issues raised on construction sites.
I was then transferred to Feddan Climbing Lane on the A96 by Nairn. This was my first project away from home and the smallest contract so far, there was only the Agent and me! I had to work on my own initiative and gained good experience on how our contracts are run. Everything from measurement to quality.
I then moved on to St. Fergus gas terminal, where Balfour Beatty won several contracts. I was involved in the initial site preparation, setting out and knee high in mud! I then worked on the concrete works for the plant which involved setting several thousands of bolts to +/- 2mm.
I had now completed my 4 years as a trainee. I had been on various ‘in house’ courses during this time. The Balfour Beatty courses are set to hopefully concur with your site responsibilities. They included a setting out course at the beginning of your career, leadership and motivation, planning, materials and of course health and safety training to name a few.
My first contract as a qualified site engineer was on the island of Orkney. I initially found it hard being so isolated from home but with time and a good site spirit it gradually became more and more bearable. The contract was to construct a sewage pumping station. This was constructed within a cofferdam. I was solely responsible for the site at weekends. I enjoyed the logistical challenges this project provided, the increased responsibility and especially the flights home!
After Orkney I was placed at Invercannie WTW in Deeside. This involved the construction of a colour removal plant, large garage building, various concrete chambers and associated pipework. I was promoted to senior site engineer and was in charge of the other engineers on site, including coaching a trainee following the same path as myself. I got involved quite heavily on the QA on this site, gaining a good background in how the Balfour Beatty system worked. I was also becoming more and more involved in the organisation of sub-contractors. There was a large element of ‘building’ type works, plastering, painting, tiling etc and was involved in the co-ordination of these sub-contractors. I also began to have more involvement in dealing with the Engineer and solving problems that inevitably occurred. This contract ran for 3 years.
I was promoted to section engineer after Invercannie and was sent to Inverness Airport. This was to be the 3rd phase of a contract at Inverness and involved the construction of a new taxiway and an emergency vehicle route. As this was ‘airside’, strict rules applied. We were in constant contact with the control tower and it was my job to co-ordinate all traffic entering or leaving the airfield. Some of the work involved breaking out and this had to be done nightshift due to the noise. The emergency vehicle access was located at the end of the runway, all plant had to be carefully controlled and moved behind a safety zone as planes took off and landed. I was now heavily involved in the running of the contract, ordering materials, co-ordinating the labour force and sub-contractors, ensuring safety on site, maintaining QA and liaising with the Engineer and the Client.
After Inverness I was sent to another island and was temporally involved on the Stornoway Ferry Terminal project. This project involved heavy temporary works and my job was to co-ordinate the material deliveries to the island. I was directly in contact with our own material store in Bellshill finding out what steel we had available and checking drawings for what was required. I was also responsible for the initial ‘make up’ of the temporary works working closely with the welders to ensure the safety of the works.
I was then transferred to Inverurie WWTW, were we were constructing a storm overflow tank, screw pumping chamber and various inlet works. Again I was involved heavily with negotiations with the Client in solving the many daily problems that occurred.
I then moved to Abercromby Jetty Pumping Station in Aberdeen. There were large quantities of pipes required which involved close co-ordination with our buying department to ensure prompt deliveries. The work involved a de-watering scheme for the pumping station and very deep drainage. I was involved in the weekly planning of the contract to ensure efficient running of the site. Again liaising with the Client in construction and monetary matters.
I then went on to the Kintore and Blackburn Bypass, a £18M design and construct contract. This was split up into three smaller sections, earthworks, roadworks and structures. I was involved in the structures section. My main responsibilities were control of the engineers, weekly programming, material ordering, co-ordinating sub-contractors, co-ordinating concrete pours, measurement, maintaining QA, liaising with the designer and ensuring co-ordination between the 17 structures on the site. This was my first D&C project and a good relationship between the designer and Balfour Beatty was essential. I was also involved in safety audits of the site. Nearer the end of the contract I was in charge of the project QA and was involved in ensuring all work was recorded and completed correctly.
Near the end of the Kintore project I felt that I needed to reassess my career, I was soon to be married and personally felt that I didn’t want to work away from home. After some thought I approached my manager and we had a talk. The Aberdeen office was looking for a new Estimator. After some discussion I was advised that I could take up this position, permanently based in the office.
I was sent to our head office in Edinburgh for training on the Balfour Beatty estimating system. I have been estimating now for 7 years now. It took some time to get used to the office environment but I am enjoying it. It can however be very demanding with strict tender return dates to meet. I am still gaining experience with every different project that we price. Contract types are changing and how we tender for a project can be very different depending on which Contract is stipulated. It may be an office based job but I feel that there is still a lot variety.
In all I have been with Balfour Beatty now for nearly 17 years. I have been involved in many different contracts and have gained experience in marine works, piling, structures, road works, airports, bridges, sewage & clean water, pipework, earthworks and so on. I have worked in city centres, islands, main roads, harbours, airports and restricted industrial sites. Contract types from traditional to fixed price to cost plus to D&C!
