Women in Construction: Isabella’s T-Level Placement

Danaher & Walsh Civil Engineering is proud to support Women in Construction by helping young people gain real-world experience through T-Level placements.

Last year, Danaher & Walsh attended an interview day at Derby College. The aim was to support two students through their Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction T-Level.

One of the successful candidates was Isabella Goshawk. Six months into her placement, Isabella has shared her experience of working with Danaher & Walsh and learning more about the construction industry.

Gaining Real-World Construction Experience

Isabella is currently studying Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction at Derby College.

As part of her T-Level placement, she spends four days a week in the classroom and one day a week with the Danaher & Walsh team. This gives her the chance to connect college learning with real construction experience.

More recently, Isabella has also spent time in the office. As a result, she has gained a broader understanding of how different departments support project delivery.

Learning on Site and in the Office

During her placement, Isabella has seen how construction projects move from planning to delivery.

She has observed site operations, reviewed construction drawings and learned more about the processes involved in delivering projects of different sizes.

This hands-on experience has supported her college studies. It has also helped her understand how planning, design and site work come together on live projects.

Building Practical and Technical Skills

Isabella has developed a range of practical and technical skills during her time with Danaher & Walsh.

For example, she has gained experience using tools such as a total station and has learned how teams work together to solve site-specific challenges.

She has also seen how carefully planned designs are brought to life on site. This has helped her appreciate the detail, coordination and teamwork involved in construction.

Exploring Careers in Construction

Spending time both on site and in the office has shown Isabella the variety of career paths available in the industry.

She has gained insight into roles across engineering, planning, purchasing and marketing. Therefore, the placement has helped her think more clearly about her future career.

After completing her T-Level, Isabella hopes to progress onto a degree apprenticeship. This would allow her to continue gaining hands-on experience while working towards her long-term goals.

Isabella’s Placement Experience

Reflecting on her placement, Isabella said:

“As a T-Level student studying Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction at Derby College, I’ve had the fantastic opportunity to gain real-world experience with Danaher & Walsh.

My placement is built into my college schedule, where I spend four days a week in the classroom and one day a week on site with the D&W team. More recently, I’ve also been given the chance to see behind the scenes in the office, which has added even more depth to my learning. Working with Danaher & Walsh has opened my eyes to the wide variety of roles and responsibilities within the construction industry. I have been able to observe the processes that go into delivering projects of various sizes. I have also seen the comparison between initial planning stages and on-site operations.

This hands-on experience has not only supported my college studies, but has also given me valuable insight into how everything comes together in real-life projects.

During my time at Danaher & Walsh, I have gained both practical and technical skills. This includes using tools such as a total station and understanding how different teams collaborate to solve site-specific challenges.

Seeing how carefully planned designs are brought to life has helped me appreciate the detail and coordination that goes into every stage of construction. Being able to spend time both on site and in the office has shown me the many career paths available in this industry. From engineering and planning to purchasing and marketing, the range of roles is inspiring. It has helped me think more clearly about the direction I would like to take in the future.

After completing my T-Level, I hope to progress onto a degree apprenticeship. This will allow me to continue gaining hands-on experience while working towards my long-term goals in the industry. I am extremely grateful to Danaher & Walsh for making me feel welcome, supporting my development and helping me grow my confidence.

This experience has shown me how exciting and rewarding a career in construction can be, especially for young people like me who are just starting out.”

Supporting Future Construction Talent

Danaher & Walsh is committed to supporting early careers and promoting opportunities within civil engineering.

Placements like Isabella’s help young people build skills, confidence and industry knowledge. They also show the range of career routes available across construction.

We are proud to support Isabella’s development and look forward to seeing how her career progresses.