Niall Clapperton is now part of the project team building the new Mansfield Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC), a major development led by Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that’s set to transform local healthcare services.
The 18-year-old’s placement experience earlier this year while studying the T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for the Construction Industry course gave him valuable insight into the construction sector and how NHS services are provided.
Delivered by Kier Group, the CDC is currently under construction on the site of the Mansfield Community Hospital and is part of a national NHS initiative to provide faster, easier access to life-saving checks, scans and tests outside of traditional hospital settings.
Upon completing his two-year college course, Niall secured a five-year degree apprenticeship in construction management with Kier.
He is now helping bring to life the very project he once observed as a student, playing a key role in the delivery of facilities that will serve thousands of patients from across Mansfield and Ashfield each year.
Niall said: “My T Level placement with Kier at the Mansfield Community Diagnostic Centre showed me how rewarding a career in construction could be. I’m now studying for a five-year degree apprenticeship in construction management, combining university learning with hands-on experience of live projects.
“It’s amazing to be working on the same site where my journey began, helping to deliver a facility that will support the NHS for years to come.
“In the future, I hope to progress within Kier and work towards becoming a fully-qualified site manager.”
Niall was among the first to study on the college’s T Level in Design, Surveying and Planning for the Construction Industry course, which sees students complete a 45-day placement with a reputable employer – gaining practical insights and developing the skills needed to transition into the industry after their studies.
Niall, along with fellow student Liam Armstrong, gained hands-on experience during their industry placements on the CDC construction site, supporting Kier’s project team in a range of real-world construction tasks. The pair divided their time between college and the workplace, developing practical skills such as estimating material costs, calculating quantities, and understanding detailed groundwork requirements.
Since completing his studies, Liam has also progressed into a degree apprenticeship in quantity surveying with leading commercial and residential finishing company Telling Finishings, continuing his journey into the construction profession.
Andrew Stevens, head of building services and professional studies in construction at West Nottinghamshire College, said: “We are committed to ensuring students develop the industry knowledge, skills and behaviours they will need in the workplace, and challenge them to prioritise and complete a busy workload so they are ready for the high stakes of an industry placement and more.
“Working closely with Kier’s site management team as part of their industry placement, Niall and Liam gained hands-on experience in coordinating projects, ensuring safety standards and understanding the day-to-day operations of a busy construction site.
“By securing this prestigious degree apprenticeship with Kier, Niall has a fantastic opportunity to continue developing his skills while working towards a university-level qualification.
“We’re equally proud of Liam, whose success in gaining a coveted degree apprenticeship with Telling Finishings demonstrates the strength of our employer partnerships and how our T Level programmes are helping students progress into exciting careers across the construction industry.
“Their achievements are much-deserved and will inspire current and future students looking to follow a similar pathway.”
Tony Shenton, regional director of Kier Construction Eastern & Midlands, said: “It is extremely important that we nurture the future workers of the construction industry, and this is something Kier is completely committed to.
“Placements provide meaningful opportunities which allow the next generation of construction professionals to gain first-hand experience, learn from our brilliant teams and begin their careers.”
Dr James Thomas, deputy chief medical officer at Sherwood Forest Hospitals, said: "Niall's story perfectly demonstrates how our partnerships with local colleges and contractors create real opportunities for young people whilst helping us build better healthcare facilities for our communities.
“This new diagnostic centre will transform access to testing for thousands of patients across Mansfield and Ashfield, and it's genuinely inspiring to know that local talent like Niall is helping to deliver it."
The Mansfield CDC project is one of several major developments being led by Sherwood Forest Hospitals to improve access to healthcare across the region. The new facility aims to reduce waiting times, ease pressure on hospital departments, and improve early detection of a wide range of health conditions.