Leo Willis Completes First Year at MCS

We are delighted to announce that our Management Trainee, Leo Willis, has completed his first year at MCS.

In June 2025, Leo began his construction journey, doing his Construction Support Technician Level 3 qualification with Orbital South Colleges.

In light of his 1-year anniversary at MCS, we interviewed Leo on his experience so far:

What got you interested in construction?

My dad is a construction manager, and I’ve always been interested in what he does. I used to do work experience weeks with him and gained a rough understanding of what he did, which sparked my interest in construction.

What made you want to do an apprenticeship?

An apprenticeship felt like the right thing for me to do at my age. I wanted to get my qualification but also have the ability to gain hands-on experience in the workplace.

How have you found your first year at MCS?

I’ve really enjoyed my time at MCS so far and I feel like I’ve learnt a lot. At the start, there was a lot to learn, but going slow and steady really helped me get to where I am now.

What challenges have you faced?

The adjustment from going from college hours to full time work has been hard, as well as the change in responsibilities. I remember really enjoying my first month as it was different to college and a new experience, but the early mornings were a struggle.

What has been some highlights for you over the past year?

One of my favourite highlights in the past year has been getting involved with our Winchester Cricket Pavilion project, seeing it from start to finish. I got the chance to be on site for a week, learning about site management and overseeing the works, which I found really interesting. I also attended my first networking event with Surrey Chambers of Commerce which was really fun and I learnt a lot about leadership.

On a more social note, I loved being a part of MCS’s team at the Dragon Boat Races last year, as we took home the champion title and it was really enjoyable to see the teamwork and competitive spirit that we all had. I also got to go to my first work social, where we all went to play mini golf in Guildford, and it was fun to get to know my coworkers outside of work.

What would you say to someone considering an apprenticeship?

Get into a routine before you start and make sure it’s the right apprenticeship for you. Apprenticeships are a commitment and you want to have full confidence that it’s what you want to do. Learn from everyone. Every person has valuable insights into how the company works and you can really learn a lot from so many different people, and it’ll give you a more rounded view of the business. Most importantly, make the most of it and enjoy yourself.

What would you say to people interested in the construction industry?

I find the construction industry really interesting, and it’s cool to learn about how everything is made, because everything is construction. It’s not just a hands-on role, because there’s so many different avenues you can go into, and there will always be a career for everyone, for example, I am doing 2 years where I explore different departments. This is a rare situation as everyone in my college course is studying towards a specific role, whereas MCS has given me the opportunity to explore every path and let me decide which one I would like to pursue.

What's it like working at MCS?

It’s like a community. Everyone is so supportive of each other and it’s a fun group of people. The whole company have been great at teaching me all the different aspects of construction, and I’ve especially enjoyed learning from Simon Patrick, our Estimating Manager, because he has such a passion for what he does and is keen to pass down his wealth of knowledge to me.