DSD Construction continually invests in the recruitment and training of new staff, including recruitment of ex HM Armed Forces personnel.
John Dunleavey is an ex frontline soldier with active service in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo who left the Army seven years ago to pursue an alternative career. Since leaving the Army, John held several short-term jobs including quarry work, but felt that he didn’t ‘fit in’ at any of his workplaces and struggled to settle into full time work.
John joined DSD Construction as a general labourer and we immediately observed that his discipline, performance, attention to detail and standard of workmanship were very good. As a result of this good attitude and performance, DSD Construction enrolled John onto a career development programme which included enhanced training and development experience.
During the career development programme John successfully passed his NVQ level 2 in concrete finishing, which he put to use on the Sellafield High Security Area 2 project. After this, John also successfully completed his slinging and signalling training course which allowed him to manage lifts on several of the DSD Construction projects at Sellafield.
In 2020, John was promoted to Ganger / Chargehand with responsibility for leading teams and developing work packs and Safe Systems of Work for our Sellafield construction projects.
In 2022 John volunteered to train as a Health & Safety Advisor and has since successfully passed his NEBOSH practical and written exams, qualifying him to provide Health & Safety advice and guidance to our Sellafield workforce.
John’s positive attitude has earned him the respect of our workforce and his peers, and he now leads the Safety Circle for DSD Construction to encourage our workforce to participate in safety improvements. He is also involved in strategic safety improvement forums with other Contractors where his input and opinion are respected by his peers.
Since achieving his NEBOSH qualifications, John has been recognised by our client, Sellafield Ltd, as a safety ambassador and has been trained by them as a ‘People Plant Interface’ safety trainer to train the workforce how to remain safe whilst working near construction equipment.
This fast-track career progression is not only testament to John’s personal capability and attitude, but also reflects DSD Construction’s commitment to training, career development and social impact.
