From Service to Site Safety at 60: David’s Journey

From Service to Site Safety at 60: David’s Journey

After 44 years of distinguished service in the British Army, approaching 60 years of age, David Straw faced the daunting question: “What’s next?” Despite decades of leadership and operational experience, transitioning into civilian life brought uncertainty. Building Heroes provided the bridge to a new chapter.

David’s military career began in 1981 with the Royal Artillery, before moving into the Adjutant General’s Corps and ultimately concluding with 17 years in the Royal Signals.

Rising through the ranks, he served as a Detachment Commander, Regimental Administrative Officer, Adjutant, Staff Officer and Permanent Staff Administrative Officer, with deployments in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, and Iraq. His roles honed skills in leadership, planning, HR, and financial management—yet leaving the forces raised uncertainty around job security and finding a meaningful new role in later life.

The Building Heroes Journey

David discovered Building Heroes at a careers fair in Catterick. Drawn by the programme’s relevance to the UK’s housing and retrofit needs, he enrolled in two courses: Construction Skills and Retrofit & Energy Performance Assessment. David found the training to be structured and supportive, blending theory with hands-on practice. David’s personal highlights included mastering bricklaying, plastering, and tiling; but David also relished being challenged by learning technical drawing on the Retrofit course. These courses served as confidence-building milestones thanks to tutor guidance and peer camaraderie.

“I would say first and foremost, the training was great. It was structured; it was well delivered. The tutors were great; and just being around people who really understood where you've come from and what you've done - it was seamless!”

The Onward Path

Since graduating from the Building Heroes programme, David has successfully secured a permanent position as a Health and Safety Consultant. He is now employed two days a week, conducting site audits primarily within the construction industry, including extensive work on NHS hospital construction sites. Supported by his dedication to continuous learning – including graduating from the Building Heroes courses and additionally obtaining a NEBOSH qualification - David has transitioned confidently into this new chapter. His journey shows that it’s never too late to upskill and step into a meaningful new career.

"Building Heroes gave me confidence and a sense of purpose. At 60, I’ve learned new skills, built friendships, and proved to myself that I can start something new."

If David's story has inspired you, click below to take your first steps towards building a new future in construction.

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