Own Your Career - Why Agency Matters More Than Ever

I started work in 1997 — before Google existed, before smartphones, and long before “AI” was a part of workplace conversations.

When I joined Willmott Dixon in 2006, Twitter hadn’t yet launched, smoking indoors had only just been banned, and I still thought artificial intelligence belonged in films starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. But I was already starting to realise that a career meant something different from simply having a job.

Today, technology is transforming every industry at pace — including construction. Roles are evolving, skills are shifting, and the idea of a single, linear career feels increasingly outdated.

And that’s exactly why one belief matters more now than ever: your career belongs to you.

I didn’t plan to spend two decades with Willmott Dixon and have six different roles across three different disciplines. That path wasn’t mapped out. It was built step by step — by learning, asking questions, putting myself forward and working in a business willing to back its people.

Over the years, I’ve watched thousands of others do the same — often starting from far more challenging circumstances.

The real barriers aren’t always skills

We often talk about employability in terms of qualifications or experience. Those things matter — but the biggest barriers I see are often internal.

Confidence. Not seeing anyone like you in a role. Or years of being told, subtly or explicitly, that certain careers aren’t “for you”.

When I moved out of HR, I worried I didn’t have the technical expertise to belong in my new role. But many of the people we support face a deeper challenge: believing they’re allowed to step into opportunity at all.

That’s why our employability programmes focus as much on belief and confidence as they do on skills.

What I’ve seen make the difference

We’ve supported people into work from every starting point — care leavers, veterans, people leaving prison, people with disabilities, and young people who simply haven’t had someone show them what’s possible.

We’re committed to supporting 1,000 people into rewarding jobs by 2030, and behind every number is a story.

A young person living in supported accommodation was struggling to see a way forward. One conversation with a member of our team led to work experience, mentoring, and consistent support. He didn’t arrive confident — but he was willing to try. He’s now on our Management Trainee Programme.

A veteran overcoming addiction and time in prison joined one of our sites as a labourer. The structure and stability of work helped him rebuild his confidence — and eventually led him to start a charity supporting children living in extreme poverty. Construction didn’t just give him a job; it gave him purpose.

A young SEND student completed a long-term placement with us, developing confidence and professional skills that helped him move into a full-time cybersecurity role. His college described the experience as “life-changing.”

Across all these stories, one thing is consistent: a moment of agency – someone deciding to take a step, even without certainty, towards something different.

Looking ahead: why this matters now

As technology advances, and AI reshapes roles, skills will change. Jobs will evolve. Learning won’t stop when formal education ends.

The people who thrive won’t be those who guess the future perfectly, but those who believe they can adapt, learn, and move with it.

What National Careers Week means to me

National Careers Week is a reminder that careers aren’t handed out. They’re built through choices, relationships and courage.

So, wherever you are right now — at the start, mid-career, or already established — this week is a chance to pause and ask yourself:

• Where am I waiting for permission?

• What skills or confidence do I need next — not forever, just next?

• What one small step could I take this week?

The future of work may be uncertain — but one thing isn’t. Your career belongs to you. Own it.