Alfie Bird
Reliable Contractors believe that apprenticeships are an invaluable opportunity to encourage diversity in the industry. We are very passionate about creating pathways for those committed to developing a career within the sector and supporting individuals throughout the entirety of their apprenticeships and beyond.
In April 2019, RC was excited to be part of the collaborative delivery of the first-ever Level 2 Tunnelling Operative apprenticeship on the Thames Tideway project. We are lucky enough to have employed 4 motivated and determined apprentices, one of whom is Alfie Bird.
Alfie admits he struggled throughout school and felt misguided by teachers and career advisors, failing to find any real support and guidance on career pathways. Upon completion of his GCSEs, Alfie began working as a groundworker for his father’s construction company, which encouraged his interest in pursuing a career within the industry. Tunnelling has always been of interest to Alfie; he identifies it as being a sector with a wealth of opportunity for progression and travel, making the Tunnelling Apprenticeship a very exciting prospect. After applying through local job brokerage, BuildLondon, and completing the extensive screening and interview process, it was evident that Alfie was a very strong candidate for the apprenticeship, and RC were delighted to employ him as one of our apprentices on the CVB JV east section of Tideway.
Since beginning his apprenticeship journey, Alfie has gone above and beyond expectations, displaying nothing but hard work and dedication on site. When asked about the impact this opportunity has had on his life, he responded:
“Working on such a huge project is something I never thought I would have an opportunity to do. I get on really well with everyone on site, and I’m lucky enough to be learning new skills from them every day. Tunnelling is definitely a career that will last a lifetime for me, and I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
It has been a pleasure to support Alfie and our other 3 apprentices throughout their journey, and we look forward to progressing them further within the industry upon completion of their NVQ.