Joe Stephenson

Starting as a plant operator apprentice in 2018, Joe is now one of our most reliable and versatile operators, working on sites throughout London and the Southeast. Joe has the Flannery feeling running through his veins and is proud to be part of a strong and progressive team. Whilst undergoing upskilling training on a Dozer through the Skills Bootcamp in Plant Operations, we caught up with Joe to discuss his exciting 6-year journey, from apprentice to multi-skilled plant operator.

What machines are you qualified to operate? After my 2-year apprenticeship, I was able to drive forward-tipping dumpers, rollers, ADTs, and tracked dumpers. I gained lots of experience on various sites including the Dover Fast Track, Thames Tideway, Thames Water projects and the M25 and M4 motorways. Once I was confident on these machines, Flannery upskilled me onto a 360 excavator (tracked), which is now the main machine I use daily. I am now undergoing upskilling training at the Operator Skills Hub in Birmingham on a Dozer, which is another exciting opportunity.

Why did you choose a career in construction? After completing a BTEC in Sports at college, I was unsure where my career journey would take me. I did not have any real career plans, but I knew I wanted to succeed and earn good money. A friend mentioned getting into construction, and here I have stayed ever since.

Did you experience any barriers to entry? I managed to secure labouring work quite quickly and built up a good reputation on-site, so I did not have any issues maintaining that work. But I wanted something more. I decided to undergo training to get a CPCS crane ticket, which I paid for out of my own pocket. However, after getting the ticket, I struggled getting any work with the red card. I did not have any company backing behind me and sites, understandably so, just would not let me use the crane without the experience. The chicken and the egg came to mind. After feeling that I had wasted a lot of money on the ticket, I still was not willing to just settle. That is when I started looking for other plant opportunities as I knew I wanted to stay in construction.

Why did you apply for the Flannery Plant Operator Apprenticeship? I saw an advert on Facebook saying that Flannery had an apprenticeship programme, and I applied right there on the spot. After an initial interview, I was accepted onto the programme and my career took off from that moment! I had heard of Flannery in the industry, so I knew there would be lots of opportunities as there is a lot of power behind their name.

What challenges have you overcome since starting your apprenticeship? I feel that every day is a school day. Early on, I would often wonder whether I was good enough. Whether I had the skills to do the job I was being asked to do. I just did not want to mess it up. Now 6 years in, I consistently receive good feedback from site foreman, supervisors and the Flannery operations team, often being sent back to the same site. My confidence has grown massively. If I am ever unsure, there are always people on-site to help and I will always let the senior team know if there is anything I am not comfortable doing.

How did you feel when you were offered a place on the Skills Bootcamp? When I received a call from Flannery, asking me if I would like to upskill on the dozer, I was over the moon! They registered me onto the Skills Bootcamp which was completely free to myself. It was an amazing opportunity.

How was your training at the Skills Bootcamp? The team at the Operator Skills Hub were very knowledgeable. The trainers provide a lot of support throughout and mentor you the whole way. The facilities are great too. The machinery is equipped with the latest safety advancements, which is helpful as these are the systems I will be using on-site after my training.

What are your short and long-term aspirations? My next step is to complete GPS training, as I can really see the benefit of this technology. I want to keep upskilling so I can advance my career further. This industry is all about staying relevant and keeping your skills up-to-date. That’s another reason it’s so rewarding. Living in Dartford, I’m excited by all the opportunities around me. We have the Lower Thames Crossing coming up and that’s a site I’m eager to work on. Hopefully driving a dozer or 360. Long-term, I want to be one of Flannery’s best 360 drivers and be part of overall skills legacy for the industry.

In three words, how would you describe a career in construction plant? Flexible. Diverse. Opportunities.

What advice would you give to people thinking about an apprenticeship or Skills Bootcamp opportunity in plant? I would say, if you want job security and financial stability, then this is a career for you. You need to be quite hands-on and be comfortable with lone working, but also be willing to contribute to the bigger team and wider goal. My apprenticeship has proven to be the biggest career stepping stone I took. I believe it gave me the best chance of succeeding in this game. I have had the support of Flannery behind me the whole way, constantly pushing me to develop my skills and career goals.

What misconceptions about construction would you like to help break-down? Construction isn’t a dead-end job. It provides so many opportunities. Just look, construction is all around us. The apprenticeship truly gave me a career for life. It has enabled me to pay my mortgage and provide for my beautiful 2-year-old daughter. Then to upskill onto a Dozer through the Skills Bootcamp has helped me become even more versatile as an operator. With that, comes more jobs and increased earning potential. I was hungry for success when I started it, and I still have that same passion to succeed every day.