Mitchell Thomson
A former British Army soldier is building a successful career in the construction industry thanks to a partnership between the Cara Group and the BuildForce organisation.
Mitchell Thomson was a Lance Bombardier with the Royal Artillery for seven and a half years before leaving in September 2022. After making the decision to change career, he discovered BuildForce which has a strong relationship with the Cara Group, a multi-disciplined contractor with offices in Manchester, Liverpool and Yorkshire.
BuildForce works with the construction industry to support the service leaver and veteran community from the RAF, British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Marines, transition into trade and professional careers.
Manchester-born Mitchell contacted BuildForce who then put him in touch with the Cara Group. Following a successful interview process, Mitchell was hired as an assistant site manager with Cara Brickwork.
Mitchell said: “I had been a bricklayer for seven years before joining the Army and knew this was an area I wanted to return to. I came across BuildForce’s advert on LinkedIn and got in touch with them and they put me on to the Cara Group.
“I had to attend an interview with Cara which BuildForce helped me prepare for. I hadn’t had an interview for many years, so their assistance with interview techniques and translating my Army skills to the civilian workforce was invaluable. It was difficult after not having an interview for so many years, but they really helped me see how my skills could be applied to the role.”
Cara Group is committed to the training and development of its employees, as well as providing opportunities within the community. Cara Brickwork employs 18 apprentices, and throughout its 21-year history, has trained more than 100 apprentices. Neil Allen, Managing Director of Cara Brickwork, dedicates a substantial amount of his time to giving ‘Director talks’ to college students, sharing his personal journey and inspiring them to aim for similar achievements.
Neil has also visited several prisons to offer advice and give talks and demonstrations in brickwork to offenders. He also attends ‘have a go days’ within the prisons including Styal Prison, an all-female prison.
Neil said: “At Cara Group we are continually growing and are always on the lookout for talented people to join our team. Partnering with BuildForce enables us to meet impressive individuals who may not have all the necessary experience, but we recognise that with their training and discipline, they will make excellent members of the team.
“After leaving the Forces, people don’t always know how to get into a civilian career and we are delighted to be able to offer opportunities in challenging and dynamic roles. It’s really important to us to make sure we are recruiting people from all backgrounds and different walks of life within the communities we work in and we’re really proud of the training and development we offer.”
Mitchell started his role with Cara Brickwork in September 2022 and says that it took him a couple of months to adjust to the change of working in construction. However, he thoroughly enjoys the role, and the independence and freedom he now has.
He said: “It has been a big adjustment, but a very positive one. I have been able to bring skills from my military career into this role such as discipline, patience and timekeeping. I genuinely enjoy my new role, working with the bricklayers on-site and the wider team at Cara.
“If anyone is thinking of leaving the Armed Forces for a career in construction then the world really is their oyster. Don’t be afraid to reach out to anyone and everyone and explore where opportunities may arise. A career in the construction industry is an excellent choice for veterans who are reliable, disciplined and hard-working – qualities that are invaluable on a building site.”
