working at Hickinbotham

Alison Collins - Contracts Administrator When Alison Collins left her position at Hickinbotham to spend a year studying in Germany, she left full of appreciation for a company that has supported her through her studies and given her many skills for the future. In her three years as Building Administration Assistant in the Estimating Department, Alison learnt most of the tasks of an estimator, such as file preparation, budget determination and client contact. She was able to develop those skills weekly, whilst her part-time office hours meant she could also maintain her double-degree studies in Law and International Studies. “It has been a great place to work,” she says. “It provided a flexible environment for me to learn and grow, and to complement my studies. ‘Management have always been very understanding that study must come first, especially in the busy exam and assignment period. ‘At the same time it has been an amazing opportunity for me to work during my studies in a job that will further my opportunities in the future.”
Jason Muir - Contracts Administrator For Bachelor of Commerce student Jason Muir, gaining experience in a corporate environment and being given responsibility has been vital to his career development. “Working at Hickinbotham I have been given clear responsibility over tasks and, through time, have used my experience within the estimating department to help others. And the skills obtained working with a diverse client base has given me the confidence to tackle any challenges in my future career.” Jason, who began at Hickinbotham during his first year of study in 2006, says the company’s “young and vibrant” culture and enthusiastic support for employees who are studying, made it an attractive place to work. “My role encompasses the preparation of files before they are released to site for construction along with completing the overall costings for management purposes. I have constant contact with clients and suppliers, resolving a range of issues,” he says. “And Hickinbotham provided me with the opportunity to work with a ‘Big 4’ accounting firm (KPMG) over the summer period. Whilst working with another company I realised the personal skills that I have gained working at Hickinbotham. These are simple things such as interacting within an office environment, speaking to clients on the phone to resolve disputes and the confidence to ‘back’ my decisions.” Jason encourages other students to consider working for Hickinbotham, particularly those studying business or construction. “I think it is important to gain as much experience in a corporate environment as possible,” he says.
Emily Eliades – Estimate and Contractors Administrator Meeting deadlines, drafting documents, decision-making and thorough file administration are just some of the skills that law student Emily Eliades has acquired during her time at Hickinbotham. “My job is the last stage before the job is released for construction. I am required to assess the job and determine if it meets the required specifications, including council approval and engineers’ reports, and am required to complete company budgets and determine the quantity of products to be delivered to the site,” she says. Being given the responsibility to manage her own files, along with the opportunity to work on Hickinbotham’s Affordable Housing range, are career highlights for Emily. “Being part of a team producing ecological sustainable housing was inspiring and rewarding.” Originally looking for a part-time job in an office environment, Emily stumbled upon a position at Hickinbotham on a university website. “I was attracted to the fact that I could work with client files, as I felt it would allow me to gain necessary skills to work in the area of law,” she says. “Plus, Hickinbotham offered flexible working hours and time off over exam periods.” This, combined with the “friendly and professional” environment at Hickinbotham, made the company an attractive choice for Emily. “Working as part of a determined group – especially one with other students in it – creates the opportunity to bounce ideas off each other and work together to find solutions,” she says.