Congratulations to Harry, who has successfully completed a four-week paid work placement with Maxi Construction through the Career Ready programme.

Harry began his placement by completing Health and Safety Awareness training, providing him with a solid foundation before joining our site teams. Throughout the placement he worked alongside our Site Managers and shadowed a variety of trades, gaining valuable hands-on experience and a real insight into the many roles involved in delivering construction projects.

The experience has confirmed Harry’s ambition to pursue a career as a joiner. He is now exploring both college courses and apprenticeship opportunities as he takes the next step towards entering the trade.

We’re also delighted that Harry successfully passed his CITB Health, Safety and Environment touchscreen test, under our sponsorship, during his placement. His application for a CSCS card has now been submitted, and to support him on his journey, we presented him with a starter tool bag and essential tools to help him begin his career.

Looking ahead, Harry hopes to develop his skills as a joiner before progressing within the industry, with the long-term ambition of becoming a Site Manager.

Although Harry’s work placement has come to an end, we will continue to mentor him throughout his final year at school, helping him explore his options and supporting him as he takes the next steps towards a career in construction.

Maxi Construction first partnered with Career Ready in 2016, supporting young people through mentoring and meaningful workplace experiences that help build confidence, develop skills and prepare them for the world of work. We are proud to play a part in helping the next generation build successful careers.

Everyone at Maxi Construction would like to thank Harry for his enthusiasm, commitment and positive attitude throughout his placement. We wish him every success as he embarks on what promises to be an exciting future in construction.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our colleague Mark Moreland.

Mark had been a Maxi Construction hardworking and loyal employee for 17 years.

Having joined as part of a groundwork squad with his father and older brother he was relegated to the back seat of a Berlingo van as they travelled to various sites.

Being a quick and astute learner, it was not long before he was demonstrating his multiskilled ability to complete a multitude of trade tasks which removed him from just external works to all aspects of refurbishment and repair works that were becoming Maxi’s typical project.

He had the ability to get the best performance from all that worked with him, from trainees to experienced workmen and a promise of his Friday Big Breakfast treat was always an incentive. His ability to train and develop individuals was recognised and many who have had the pleasure of working with him now have a far greater knowledge and skillset as a result.

With some coercing, Mark accepted the additional responsibility of managing his own individual projects, whilst he was selective on the ones he would accept, each was a success and demonstrated his ability to work with Designers and Project Managers often giving them advice of his years of experience on how to resolve practical buildability problems.

Mark enjoyed the ‘craic’ that came with site working and would contribute to the joviality making the working day pass quickly; there were rumours on one site that they had found a body when excavating, with the site engineer running out to see an outstretched arm protruding from a pile of excavated material and panicked; on closer inspection he was relieved that it was a mannequin’s arm and turned to see Mark and others laughing at the success of their prank.

Mark was a fantastic asset to the business but was first, and most importantly of all, a proud family man and our thoughts have been with his family at this sad time.

Mark is pictured (left) with our MD John Aitchison

Maxi Construction is proud to continue its commitment to nurturing young talent by supporting the Career Ready programme for the 2024/25 academic year.

As part of this initiative our Compliance Manager, Lisa Aitken, has taken on the role of mentor to Lexi Pirie, a student from Inveralmond Community High School. While Lexi is still exploring her career options, her four-week placement at Maxi Construction offered her a first-hand look into the dynamic world of construction.

Ahead of her placement, Lexi benefitted from tailored support including a mock interview and CV preparation session with Lisa. Once at Maxi Construction she was given the opportunity to gain practical experience across a variety of departments including compliance, marketing, surveying, buying, admin and accounts—helping her build a broad understanding of the many roles that contribute to the industry’s success.

Lexi successfully completed her placement with an end-of-placement presentation where she confidently reflected on her experiences and what she had learned.

Reflecting on her time at Maxi Construction, Lexi shared:

“Before starting, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from an office environment. But now I’ve gained valuable insight, not only into the construction industry, but also into the diverse roles that make up a successful workplace. Collaborating with different teams helped me better understand the responsibilities and contributions of each department and I’m especially grateful to my mentor for guiding me through that experience. The kindness and support I received from everyone at Maxi made me feel truly welcome and I deeply appreciate how comfortable they made me feel from day one. While I may not have a clear career path just yet, my placement has opened my eyes to exciting new possibilities and given me a stronger sense of what my future could hold. It’s also reignited my passion and made me even more determined to pursue my dream of educating abroad.”

Lisa Aitken added:

“It’s been fantastic to mentor Lexi and watch her confidence grow over the placement. Programmes like Career Ready are so important in helping young people see what’s possible and supporting them as they make decisions about their future. I look forward to meeting with Lexi over the coming months ahead of her graduation in May 2026.”

Maxi Construction remains dedicated to inspiring the next generation, helping young people build skills, gain experience and discover the career paths open to them within the construction sector.