The CGL Career Path is a career-long approach to personal development and progression which is unique to the specialist construction sector.
Few companies match the levels of support that CGL will give you through this process – via training, encouragement and sponsorship for higher degrees. You can choose to become a Chartered Engineer, Chartered Geologist, or a Chartered Environmentalist. This has led to a steady progression of staff becoming chartered professionals (11 people in one year).
CGL’s development opportunities go beyond early/mid-career professional training as newly chartered staff can join a structured management development programme using CGL’s strong links with the Chartered Management Institute.
CGL’s two career progression routes
The CGL Career Path has two strands – the Technical Path and the Group Support Path – to ensure anyone who joins the company has opportunities to develop and progress whatever their role.
The Technical Path offers graduates and early stage joiners a firm foundation within the geotechnical and geoenvironmental disciplines, whilst giving exposure to business functions such as finance and marketing, to gain a wider appreciation of the business as a whole. Progression through to chartered status and progressive seniority via the CGL Training Programmes follows this.
Our development opportunities go beyond early- and mid-career professional training and we believe this gives CGL the edge as a small business. We offer newly chartered staff the opportunity to participate in a structured management development programme through our strong links with the Chartered Management Institute where colleagues have achieved Certificates in Management and Leadership or Chartered Manager status. Further opportunities exist and staff have studied for an MBA and Director Development courses are available. For people whose passions lie in the technical field, we have developed routes to RoGEP and SiLC. These are not mutually exclusive routes; we believe that a combination of enhancing management competence and technical skills helps us to develop the business leaders and specialists of the future.
A parallel Group Support Path has been developed which allows progression from school leaver through to senior management via a variety of routes including apprenticeships, CMI management certificates and qualifications from financial institutions. CGL’s Group Support Path recognises the contribution of nontechnical staff to the success of the company and that CGL thrives because of the skills of those people in our support functions.
Q&A with Joseph Birnie, Senior Engineer
When did you join us?
September 2017.
What attracted you to us/what was important when choosing a company to work for?
CGL was highly recommended during a summer placement (during my university course) where I was working on the Northern Line Extension at Battersea and Nine Elms. What attracted me as a graduate was the diverse services CGL offers, from ground investigation to geo-environmental and to design, such as geotechnical design and temporary works design. This was very attractive as a Geology & Geotechnical Engineering graduate as I could still grow my soil logging skills but also apply them in the design phase.
It was mainly the vast experience, great professionals and reputation CGL has in the detailed geo-structural design, numerical analysis and temporary works that made CGL very appealing to me.
Tell us more about your career journey with us. How has CGL supported your career growth?
Over the last five years at CGL, I have worked from a Graduate (undertaking desk studies, being onsite getting my boots dirty, and undertaking design tasks), through to Engineer, and now to Senior Engineer (where I a managing projects up to £200k value, interacting with Clients on a daily basis and assisting the London workstream to grow through Business Development, with the occasional site visit to keep my skills in touch!). I very much enjoy training and mentoring Graduate engineers, especially assisting them with their Chartership roadmap (CEng or CGeol).
What does a typical day look like for you?
A typical day varies (a lot!). It might consist of a Temporary Works Design task or design check; undertaking site meetings with Clients to check in on the progress of site investigations and/or geotechnical & temporary works designs; Teams meeting with the London office & wider CGL company; Business Development & Key Account Management Meetings; writing a fee proposal/bid to new & existing Clients; managing project finances; end of month invoicing; assisting a Main Contractor on complex tender design services (getting the pen out and sketching where required!); writing a project award entry… the list goes on!
What do you like about our culture and working with us?
I would summarise CGL as being close-knit, dynamic and flexible. CGL always listen, no matter who is talking. CGL are also very transparent, and lines of communication are open and unbroken. Our main focus is providing a sustainable solution (whether that’s site investigation, consultancy services, advice or design) at a fast turnaround to meet Client deadlines to the very best quality possible. We benchmark ourselves as being a leader in the field with respect to Geotechnical, Geo-Environmental and Temporary Works Design.
How has CGL supported your career growth?
CGL has supported me 100%. I am approaching my CEng independent review, aiming to sit my chartership exam in the Spring/Summer, with key advice and guidance from the CGL senior team and peers.
What tips would you give new graduates entering the engineering/construction industry?
Throw yourself in at the deep end, and never say no to a new piece of work or project topic. Continual learning is key. Every day is a school day in the construction industry!
