From Building Heroes to Building Futures: Hannah Parton's Journey into Construction with Lovell

Hannah Parton, a determined Building Heroes graduate from Reaseheath Academy, exemplifies the transformative journey from military family background to a budding career in the construction industry. Completing her Level 1 Basic Construction Skills diploma under the guidance of tutors Craig and Academy leader Jason in July2024, Hannah's path took a significant turn during a pivotal employer engagement event hosted by Lovell Partnerships Ltd.

During the event, the Lovell team introduced the cohort to the construction industry, outlining potential opportunities that may interest the military community transitioning into civilian careers. The Lovell team completed a tiling challenge alongside the Building Heroes cohort, allowing the Lovell participants to engage directly with the service leavers and veterans and allowing our Building Heroes to network directly with industry professionals while having fun!

Hannah, the daughter of a long-serving army veteran and a recent graduate having completed her English degree, had always harboured an interest in construction. The BuildingHeroes programme was her bridge to exploring this interest more profoundly after academic pursuits. Her experience at Building Heroes, learning alongside other service leavers, veterans and military family members, solidified her decision to pursue a career in construction.

Following her successful completion of the Building Heroes course, Hannah embarked on a two-week work placement secured through Building Heroes with Vinci, gaining initial real-world experience which bolstered her confidence and readiness for more. This led her, through the Building Heroes introduction, to apply for and join the Graduate Management Trainee Programme with Lovell, landing her in theMidlands team in the autumn of 2024.

Since joining Lovell, Hannah has been predominantly involved in a major development project inTelford, starting with the site management team. As part of the graduate programme, she is set over the next two to experience various roles across the business including site management and operations, pre-construction, design, buying, estimating, land, and commercial. However, her current passion remains on-site, where she finds the dynamic environment invigorating and inclusive.

"The on-site team is so inclusive; the camaraderie reminded me of the Building Heroes workshop. Lovell has a friendly and warm culture, from site to site, and our site here at Telford is no exception—it has a family feel and it is like a military unit," Hannah shared. She credits the inclusive and supportive culture at Lovell for making her integration into an already well-formed team smoother than anticipated.

As she prepares to transition to the next phase of her training, involving more desk-based roles, Hannah reflects on her growth and the impact of being temporarily empowered to handle more responsibilities while line management have taken annual leave. "It gave me the opportunity to embrace the role even further, enhancing my learning and building my confidence and giving me the feeling that I can do this!" she expressed enthusiastically.

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Hannah’s journey is a testament to the effectiveness of programmes like Building Heroes in preparing and introducing members of the Armed Forces community to 'ForcesFriendly' and supportive employers, and pathways towards successful careers in construction. As she contemplates a future that might blend her interest indesign with hands-on site management, Hannah encourages others from theBuilding Heroes community: "Go for it, once you have tried it, you won't regret it. The experiences from a Building Heroes cohort to a site team are so transferable, and it is a safe place to land for a new career in construction... and rest assured there is always a kettle and tea bag or two ready and available for a friendly brew break too!"

As Hannah continues to develop her skills and explore her potential within Lovell, her story serves as inspiration and a blueprint for others looking to make similar transitions, proving that with the right training and opportunities, a new career in construction is not just possible but rewarding.

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