28 May 2025
Will converts love of rugby to construction
Build UK chair and D-Drill & Sawing managing director Julie White is passionate about bringing through the next generation of workforce in the construction industry.
In a new feature, entitled The Real Apprentice – You Are Hired, Julie has been catching up with apprentices in the industry both within D-Drill and at other companies in the sector to show the breadth of careers on offer – with hundreds of jobs in the industry!
Will Sheppard has a passion for rugby union and after he joined leading M&E and building services provider MCS as an apprentice, he found plenty of similarities to his favourite sport in his working life.
Will said: “I’ve always loved rugby. It’s a brilliant sport because you have players of all shapes and sizes; players with different types of skills and different personalities.
“When it all comes together, it works. The team works. And I have found that it is the same in construction. We’ve all got our job to do to ensure that every project is completed as it should be.
“I love the aspect of all being together as one and working in a team. If one section gets it wrong in rugby, everything can fall apart.
“My role model growing up was England prop Ellis Genge. He made it in professional rugby when it wasn’t normal for someone from his background to make it professionally. I take inspiration from that.
“I got myself into construction but I’ve always been surrounded by hard working people like my mum and dad. I also know the power of teamwork.
“I joined MCS in August 2024 as a building services engineer apprentice, which means I oversee the installation of mechanical and electrical services in construction. I had made the decision to not go to university after sixth form and decided I needed some real-life experience of a job in the real world.
“I ended up getting an interview and the whole process made me feel so relaxed and comfortable in my own skin, allowing me to give the best representation of myself.
“I have quite a few responsibilities already. I tend to patrol the site in the morning, and I check health and safety paperwork to make sure our sub-contractors have taken correct measures.
“I will normally have a main body of work, such as following drawings, checking services have been built correctly, testing ventilation to make sure it is ready for commissioning, overall maintenance and cleaning of the site – and also making the odd cup of tea!
“I have a day release weekly on a Thursday with my apprenticeship provider, Bath College. The lecturers are great and they’re supportive and understanding. They want you to do your best and want to get you to pass the course – and there is so much I can take from the classroom out onto the sites.
“I enjoy the technical side of what I do but the best part of the job is probably the bonds and connections you make with your colleagues. Every different job has its different memories and it’s like having a new job or a fresh start every four to five months.
“My advice to anyone who is thinking of coming into the industry as an apprentice is: ‘Do it!’ It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
“Having skills in the construction industry is of great value. You get to learn from people from so many different backgrounds and gain valuable life lessons that you can take into your future career, as well as your personal life.”
Julie’s thoughts: “Wow! I have really enjoyed meeting with and chatting to apprentices from the construction industry in recent weeks and Will is another brilliant example of the inspiring individuals coming through.
“I love the fact that he’s taken so much inspiration from rugby and how he’s converted that passion for the sport into his working life, finding similarities around teamwork and having one common goal.
“What his story also shows is how we as an industry have to make everyone feel welcome from day one. The great impression that MCS gave to Will in his very first interview meant that we attracted a talented young individual into construction and that’s absolutely vital.”
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