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From Classroom to Construction Site: FBR’s Partnership with The University of Portsmouth

From Classroom to Construction Site: FBR’s Partnership with The University of Portsmouth.

From Classroom to Construction Site: FBR’s Partnership with The University of PortsmouthAt FBR, we believe in building more than just careers, we believe in building futures. One of the most rewarding ways we’ve done that in recent years is through our ongoing partnership with the University of Portsmouth, a collaboration that continues to grow, evolve, and deliver real results for students and the wider construction industry.

This partnership began in 2022, when our Managing Consultant, Cameron Whitley, connected with Emily Parry, a key figure in the university’s employability and engagement team. What started as a conversation about connecting students with the construction industry quickly developed into a strong working relationship, one rooted in a shared passion for helping young people succeed. From the very beginning, both parties recognised the challenges students face when trying to break into construction: lack of experience, limited industry connections, and often, very little insight into the many career paths available beyond the traditional trades, that’s where FBR stepped in.

Since launching the partnership, we’ve become a regular presence at construction job fairs hosted by the university. These events have allowed us to meet hundreds of students face-to-face, register them with our recruitment agency, and provide them with practical, honest advice about what it takes to get started in the industry. Whether someone is aiming for site management, quantity surveying, health and safety, or project support, we’ve made it our mission to show students that there’s more than one way to build a successful career in construction.

Beyond the fairs, Cameron has also taken a hands-on role in supporting students’ development. He has delivered seminars and employability sessions, covering essential topics such as CV writing, standing out in the job market, preparing for interviews, and making the most of university placements. His experience as both a recruiter and Mental Health First Aider has enabled him to offer advice that is not only career-focused but also empathetic and grounded in real-world understanding.

So far, we’ve placed nine graduates into full-time construction roles through this partnership. Each placement is tailored to the individual, we look at their strengths, ambitions, and interests, and match them with the right opportunity. It’s not just about getting a job; it’s about starting a career with direction and purpose.

For us, it’s incredibly important to offer that kind of support to young people. The construction industry can be tough to break into, especially without contacts or industry knowledge. That’s why we think it’s essential to nurture the next generation, not just by placing them in jobs, but by giving them the tools, confidence and encouragement they need to build something long-term. These students are the future of our industry, and we want to make sure they’re set up to thrive. One of the things that makes this partnership work is the genuine commitment on both sides. The team at the university is passionate about supporting their students, and we’re equally committed to opening doors wherever we can. The result is a growing network of young people entering the construction industry with the confidence, support, and guidance they need to succeed.

We recently visited the University of Portsmouth again, this time to sit down with Chloe Cruse, Deputy Manager of Optional Placements, to hear her perspective on how the partnership has developed. These conversations were filmed and will be shared as part of a short video series across our social media channels, including LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. In the videos, we talk more about how the partnership works, why there’s so much more to construction than people often realise, and what kind of support is available to students who are thinking about studying or working in the industry.

One of the key takeaways from our conversation with Chloe was just how valuable it is for students to gain real-life, current insight into the construction industry. Through our partnership, we’re able to offer students more than just job adverts we give them access to up-to-date knowledge about what’s happening in the industry right now, and a clear picture of the career paths available thanks to our strong connections with local construction businesses.

Chloe also spoke about the common misconceptions students have around construction. Many assume it’s purely hands-on, manual work, but the reality is very different. While there are plenty of site-based roles, there are also just as many opportunities in technical, office-based positions from estimating and planning to health and safety, commercial roles, and design. The variety within construction often surprises people, and one of our goals is to make students more aware of just how broad and exciting the industry really is.

We also talked about the creative side of construction, something that’s not often highlighted enough. Whether it’s solving on-site challenges, managing complex timelines, or designing new spaces, creativity plays a huge role. Alongside technical skills, employers are looking for strong soft skills too. Communication, problem-solving, adaptability, and teamwork are all essential, and we work closely with students to help them identify and strengthen these attributes.

These kinds of honest conversations are exactly why this partnership works so well. By giving students access to industry professionals and practical advice, we’re helping them feel more confident, better prepared, and excited about the opportunities ahead.

If you’d like to see more of what we discussed with Chloe, make sure to check out the full video interviews. They’ll be shared across our social channels over the next few weeks, follow us on https://uk.linkedin.com/company/fbr-construction-recruitment-limited to catch the series.

FBR Construction Recruitment – Supplying Skilled Professionals for Skilled Trades, Labour, and Plant Operators, Serving Residential Developers, Main Contractors, Civil Engineering, and M&E Contracting.

FBR is a dedicated construction recruitment agency supporting clients and candidates across the South Coast, South East, and Home Counties of England. We recruit across a wide region including areas like Exeter, Cardiff, Bristol, Basingstoke, Chichester, Portsmouth, Oxford, Crawley, Winchester, Guildford, Bournemouth, and Poole. Whether you’re a developer seeking reliable site staff, a civil engineering contractor needing groundworkers, or a tradesperson looking for your next role, FBR connects you with the right opportunities and workforce in the construction industry. Reach out today for expert hiring support or job placements.

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How to write a CV for Construction job roles

Learn how to write a CV for construction jobs with FBR

Learn how to write a CV for construction jobs with FBR
There are many different ways you can write a CV for construction job roles. A CV is an important part of applying for new jobs. It provides you with the opportunity to showcase your skills and sell yourself to a potential employer.

CVs are part of recruitment processes, and here at FBR we see a lot of them. Knowing how to write a CV for construction jobs is an important skill. Not every role is the same so learning how to enhance your CV for each job can put you ahead of your competition.

There are fundamental parts of any CV. Let’s look at the essentials and then dive into construction specific CVs.

Basic CV requirements

Every CV will need to have some basic requirements. These are;

  • Contact information: a potential employer or recruiter will need to know how to contact you for interviews and with the good news of a job offer.
  • About you: provide your recruiter or potential employer a brief overview of who you are. This will help them get to know you and make a quick judgement if you would be a good fit for the team. After all, many employers now are focused on looking for the right candidate who they can skill up and train, over someone who wouldn’t fit in with the team.
  • Experience: this is where you provide an overview of your experience in the industry. If you are just starting out, you can include previous experience in other roles and link any and all transferable skills.
  • References: be sure to include any references or have the following sentence “happy to provide references upon request.” Most recruitment companies will either ask for the references beforehand. And typically your most recent employer will be one of the references.

Once you have an outline of your CV you can begin to build and expand on it. Adding in qualifications and other relevant information is beneficial.

Construction specific CVs

All CVs can look similar, but having a generic CV is a little dated. Personalising your CV to include industry specific information is key.

If you have industry specific qualifications be sure to include those, and even put them above other qualifications. GCSEs and other qualifications are important, but highlighting industry specific qualifications is better.

If you have worked on specific projects that required key skills, write about them in the experience section. Highlight your relevant skills and experience as much as possible.

The key thing to remember with CVs is to make sure they match the role you are applying for. Whether that is with experience, transferable skills, or a personality match.

How to format your CV for construction jobs

At the top of your CV include a title that links to the industry and job role you are applying for. This makes it easy to place and the employer or recruiter knows what they are looking at.

After that, the next place to go when formatting your CV is the contact information. This includes your name, date of birth, email address, and phone number. You can include a short bio, or have a personal statement here too. This way everything about you is in one palace.

Begin to build out the rest of your CV with qualifications, remember to keep industry specific ones at the top. Include previous job roles and explain in short your responsibilities. Highlight any transferable skills such as communication, operating systems, attention to detail, working independently etc.

Once you have completed the main base of your CV you can then begin to play around with it. Add details you think would make an impact on your application. All the while highlighting your qualifications, experience, skills and achievements.

Instead of making a CV on a basic word document, try heading over to Canva. There are many templates you can use to elevate your CV.

CV tips and tricks

When looking at a specific job role, review the job description and make sure to add any buzzwords and details that have been used and apply to you.

Create a portfolio of your previous work. This is a great way to showcase your skills and projects you have worked on. On each image you can detail the scope of the project as well as your specific involvement.

Include a skills bar chart. What this means is that you look at your current skill set and quantify your current level. Rate yourself out of 5 and include a bar chart of those skills, this is a really easy way to gain some attention as well as provide insight into where you rate yourself.

Make your CV skimmable. Recruiters and employers get many, many CVs and job applications a day. Making it easy to read and skimmable means that the relevant information is easy to find and puts you at a higher chance of getting an interview.

Don’t be afraid to add design to your CV. Depending on where you are applying to, adding a design and formatting your CV to be different from a standard white page can help you stand out from the crowd. It also shows that you have put in time and effort, and have great attention to detail. All of these skills are key in many construction jobs. First impressions count, so make sure your CV is a great first impression.

Writing a CV for construction job roles is relatively easy, it just takes time and a little effort. Once you have interviewed or spoken to a potential employer, you can always ask for feedback. Getting feedback on your CV can be extremely helpful as you continue to search for construction jobs.

If you are looking to find your next job contact FBR. Our recruitment experts are on hand to help you find the right role. Contact us now, or visit our Jobs Board.

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