Name: Kayleigh Merritt
Job title: Talent development manager, Winvic
What I do: I manage Winvic’s apprenticeship, T-Level, Year In Industry and graduate programmes, meaning I work closely with education providers across the country as well as our site teams who provide the hands-on experience and shape the next generation of construction professionals. I also collaborate with our social value team and help facilitate activities that will attract new talent into the industry, from the Winvic Enrichment Programme to attending careers fairs and STEM events.
Why I got into the property industry: I was looking for a new challenge and I had a change of career in 2018, going from a training manager role in the adult care sector to working for Winvic, a main multidisciplinary contractor. Having the opportunity to develop the apprenticeship programmes within the business was one I couldn’t turn down.
How I did it: I had excellent knowledge of apprenticeships and how job-based qualifications worked, but when I started working at Winvic as a training coordinator I first had to understand the different construction roles and industry apprenticeships, and map where the business could support new careers. Our apprenticeship recruitment has gone from strength to strength ever since. I have continued to develop our year-out programme ‘Year In Industry’ and we currently have five university students with us. After I became a T Level ambassador, Winvic has also been a champion of supporting that career path. However, it’s not just about the next generation. I support employees at all levels to develop and I manage our Voyage Future Leaders and Momentum Leadership programmes as well as multiple industry charterships.
My first proper job: I worked at a Learning Disability Residential College while I completed an adult health and social care apprenticeship.
My first big break: I loved my jobs before I worked at Winvic, but I feel my big career break was joining the company because I have been able to do so much here. In 2018 and 2019, I transformed Winvic’s approach to apprenticeships and I developed our Year In Industry programme. I’m grateful I’ve been able to continue creating more career support structures based on students’ needs.
My inspiration(s): The students are my inspiration. Seeing their development and progression makes every day worthwhile.
The biggest challenge I’ve encountered to date: Creating the Winvic Enrichment Programme was challenging due to the level of collaboration required. It was important for me to understand the students’ needs from college tutors and ensure our internal team and subcontractor partners could deliver the right sessions – across five days – that would address those on-site essentials. Development work is ongoing as we tailor the programme for each cohort that we welcome to site, or multiple sites, based on the subject the class is studying. However, we now have a very successful blueprint that allows college students to elevate their knowledge by being in a practical environment where they can ask questions directly to professionals and learn about the wide variety of careers that they could go in to.
My greatest achievement/proudest moment to date: Again, the Winvic Enrichment Programme – the biggest challenges always deliver the greatest rewards. The programme won a Community Enrichment Award in the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) Leading Lights Awards and the Inspiring Women in Construction and Engineering Awards 2024 credited Winvic as ‘Highly Commended’ in the Excellence in Outreach category. I was also very honoured to be selected for the Construction Industry Training Board’s (CITB) Top 100 Influential Women in Construction Award and won the Midlands Local Hero accolade.
The biggest misconception people have about the property industry: Naturally, many people think of construction trades when it comes to developing the built environment, but there are so many careers in so many fields within the industry that people don’t see, from financial roles to digital design.
My biggest bugbear about the industry/the one thing I would change about the industry: I think there needs to be even greater collaboration between education providers and employers, to ensure that skills being taught and the ones required in real-life roles match. When young people have a better understanding of the roles available, they are able to set themselves goals and there are more positive outcomes all round.
Why I’m so passionate about DE&I: Everyone should have an opportunity to reach their potential and achieve their dreams.
Where I’d like to be in five years’ time career-wise: I expect I will be doing a similar role, but I hope I will have built stronger relationships, I’ll be collaborating with more schools, colleges and universities, and we’ll be supporting more young careers. I especially hope that our female role models will have inspired more young women into the construction industry.
Who I’d invite, living or dead, to a dinner party: I’d invite my nan who passed away a couple of years ago. She always encouraged me and was an inspiration to many people through the work she did in the local community and how she always helped other people in need.
What I do in my downtime: You’ll probably find me walking my two dogs, out on my allotment or utilising the produce I’ve grown.
The job I’d be doing if I was not doing this: I’m really not sure, but at its heart it would have to be about helping people.
My advice for someone just starting out: Be present when you get to work, show people you want to be there and never be afraid to ask questions or for help.
My motto/mantra: Have a go, try it!
