Diamond drilling operative

Every day we go the office and get the brief (instructions) for the construction site we’re going to work on. When you arrive on site you speak to the site manager, plumber or engineer to see what needs diamond drilling or cutting and why it needs cutting.

We do a health and safety assessment to make sure we’re working safely and work out how much time it will take and if the task can be done there and then or if we need to come back another day. We then update the office on how long the job will take.

Ninety percent of the time we’re cutting through concrete, steel reinforced concrete. We work on lots of old buildings being refurbished. It’s best if we can start our diamond drilling as early as possibly on a construction project as we use heavy-duty machinery that can be noisy, so the earlier we start our work on a project the better. 

How did you get started?

The company I work for is a family business. It started as a partnership between my father and his colleague. I was looking for a temporary job after I graduated from university so I started working at my dad’s company part time and I enjoyed it so much I decided to stay on. I trained as a diamond drilling and sawing operative.

What do you enjoy about your job?

I enjoy the challenges the job brings. Every day is different and every construction site or project is different. I also like the physical side of the job. It’s not easy but I like the exercise I get. You also meet different people on each construction site, which can be both challenging and enjoyable.

What skills do you need?

Being able to adapt to different situations is really important. You need to get along with the people you’re working for. You also need to be able to use your problem-solving skills to get the job done. Every task needs to be finished and you have to sometimes make decisions on the spot to be able to proceed.

Very often you can use your previous experience to advise on the best way forward or point out potential pitfalls that have not been considered. This is part of the ethos of our company. We work with the client to achieve the required result in the safest, most efficient and cost-effective way.

Proudest career moment?

I get a great deal of satisfaction when I offer my opinion on the way to solve a problem and it achieves the right result. I’m proud of gaining my NVQ 2 in Diamond Drilling and Sawing and look forward to gaining further qualifications.

Where is your career heading next?

I expect to step into my father’s shoes and take a hand in the running of the company.

Advice on how to get into construction?

For diamond drilling and sawing, if you’ve got a day’s hard work in you then I would say join the industry. You do need to be motivated and willing to put in the hard work and effort. You will get a great deal of job satisfaction working in a dynamic industry.

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