Pictured above: (l-r) Karl Hofbauer, Joe Davis and Jack
Edwards
Three Lovell employees are singing the praises of affordable
housebuilder and regeneration specialist Lovell after the company
stepped in not only to save their jobs but also their
education.
The three young employees had all previously been employed by
Connaught, the building firm that collapsed towards the end of
2010. Lovell took over a number of former Connaught contracts and
employed many former Connaught employees. However, this was a
worrying time for Joe Davis, an Assistant Quantity Surveyor based
in Cannock; Karl Hofbauer, a Quantity Surveyor working in Daventry;
and Jack Edwards, a Trainee Quantity Surveyor also in Daventry, who
were all working for Connaught at the time and studying for their
degrees in Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management.
"I was very concerned when Connaught collapsed, worried that I
wouldn't get another job due to the current economic climate, and I
thought my degree would definitely have to be on hold," says Karl
Hofbauer. "I am very happy with Lovell agreeing to continue
supporting my degree and I am already looking to do my RICS
qualification with Lovell's support. There are surveyors where I'm
working who have progressed from trainee to upper management. I
just hope I can follow in a similar way. I now feel part of the
Lovell team and am looking forward to progressing as part of
Lovell."
Joe Davis adds, "I feel welcomed and integrated into Lovell and
am looking forward to gaining experience on different projects. The
great thing is, I'm gaining experience whilst studying and the
fees are paid by Lovell, avoiding a large debt when I've finished
my degree. Once I have completed my degree, I would like to go on
to achieve professional membership with RICS, which Lovell are also
keen to support."
At 21, Jack Edwards is the youngest of the trio. He has worked
as a trainee Quantity Surveyor since he left school at 18 and sees
the degree as vital for the progress of his career. He adds, "The
experience I pick up on site helps me a lot with some key areas of
my degree, which I'm about half-way through now. It's still early
days yet but I feel Lovell is a company in which I could really
progress my career."
Lovell is renowned for its commitment to training and developing
its employees, boasting an average of more than 5 days training per
employee per year compared to the industry standard of little more
than one day. Employees with passion, enthusiasm and
commitment will always receive the company's backing.
David Gough, Regional Director for Lovell Midlands, comments:
"We're delighted to have Joe, Karl and Jack on the team. Having
seen them at work since they joined us, we firmly believe that they
will repay our investment in them by being highly effective members
of the Lovell team for many years to come."