One Year On with Our Building Students

From taking ownership of work packages and chairing design team meetings to experiencing projects from early stages through to handover, our 2025 Building Student cohort has already packed plenty into their first year at Russell WBHO.

Alex Benson, Alistair Clay, Cory Irvine and James Wharton have spent the past 12 months gaining hands-on experience across the business, putting their university learning into practice and discovering more about the different career paths within the construction industry.

The ‘Fab Four’ have completed rotations across Quantity Surveying, HSEQ, Estimating, Design Management, Building Services and Site Management, experiencing life both on site and in our head office while balancing their studies at the University of Salford.

With Year 1 now under their belts, we caught up with Alex, Alistair, Cory and James to hear what stands out from their first year, from achievements and lessons learnt to the challenges that have helped shape their experiences.

Date:
07th Oct 2026
Category:
- Building Student

Alex Benson

What achievement are you most proud of from your first year?

“It would be between overseeing the commercial aspects of a package at The Mere during my first five months, from enquiry stage through to the final account, and giving my Health & Safety presentation in front of the whole office.

“The package was the first thing I’d managed independently, reporting to the Commercial Lead, while the presentation really pushed me out of my comfort zone. I don’t particularly like public speaking, but it went really well, so I was proud of myself for stepping up and doing it.”

Alistair Clay

Which project gave you the best insight into the construction industry?

“The Mere project gave me the best insight, as it was the first project I visited during my work experience back in 2024. Since joining Russell WBHO on the Building Student Programme, I spent the first nine months at The Mere, completing my Building Services and Site Management rotations.

“It was extremely interesting to see the project develop from its early stages through to practical completion and handover. This experience gave me a valuable understanding of how a high-quality development is delivered and the collaboration required to achieve a successful outcome.”

Cory Irvine

What project challenged you the most, and what did you learn from it?

“During my Design Management rotation, I had been working on several Village schemes that were all at different stages. This challenged me to ensure I managed my time between jobs effectively, all while taking on more responsibility, such as chairing DTMs and managing the consultants to meet procurement deadlines.

“Handling this proved beneficial, as being shown how to do something on one project meant that I got the opportunity down the line to do this myself on a different scheme.”

James Wharton

What is one lesson you’ve learnt through the Building Student Programme that you couldn’t have learnt at university alone?

“One of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt through the programme is the importance of people skills and communication, especially in a site environment. University teaches you the technical knowledge and know-how, but being on site has taught me how to communicate effectively with different people, build relationships and adapt how I speak depending on the situation at hand.”

As Construction Director and champion of the Building Student Programme, John Millward has seen the cohort develop from their induction through to their first full year in the construction industry.

Reflecting on their progress, John said: “The 2025 cohort have made a real impression since joining the business. Alex, Alistair, Cory and James have quickly settled into their roles and built strong relationships with colleagues across the business.

“They bring a real sense of energy and curiosity to their work, asking thoughtful questions and showing a genuine willingness to learn. They have also been prepared to step outside their comfort zones and take on challenges beyond their day-to-day roles, whether that’s presenting to the wider business or getting involved in new initiatives. It’s been great to see them become such an integral part of the team.”

Their first year has give each student a different set of experiences, but a common theme has been the opportunity to learn by doing. Whether working on live projects, taking on additional responsibility or collaborating with colleagues across different disciplines, the programme has allowed them to develop skills that extend way beyond the classroom.

Our ‘Fab Four’ are now looking ahead to another year of university studies, new rotations and opportunities to build on the experience they have gained so far.

The Russell WBHO Building Student Programme combines full-time employment and on-the-job training with a part-time degree at the University of Salford. During the first two years, students rotate through key areas of the business gaining a broad understanding of the construction industry before specialising in their chosen discipline during the final three years.

For Alex, Alistair, Cory and James, their first year has provided a strong foundation, and there is plenty more to come.

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One Year On: Four Russell WBHO Building Students Reflect on Their First Year

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