HR Corner Building a brighter future by Mayse Lam Home-grown talent lays solid foundations The Hong Kong metropolis which was once a tiny fishing village has forward-thinking industrialists to thank for its ongoing transformation. "Without driven professionals in the building and construction industry, ideas and concepts would remain pipe dreams," notes Yu Sai-yen, vice chairman, Build King Holdings Limited. Over the past years, Build King has successfully completed various prestigious construction projects, including the KCRC West Rail development and the MTRC Tseung Kwan O extension assignment. The company officially undertakes diversified construction work in both the public and private sectors. "In the past, our group focused more on public site formations, airport development, roads and bridges and infrastructure. However, in recent years, as the number of government projects diminished, our client base has been broadened to cover more corporations and institutions such as MTR Corporation, The Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC), Airport Authority Hong Kong, HK Electric, The Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (HAECO), Ocean Park Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong and Cheung Kong (Holdings) Limited. Recently, we even expanded our business to Dubai, specifically concentrating on marine site developments", says Mr Yu. Mr Yu concedes that with the declining number of government projects and increased competition in the industry, a serious supply situation has emerged. However, the capacity for growth in the industry remains, and opportunities abound for young people who wish to excel in construction. "As one of the leading construction companies in Hong Kong, we feel responsible for developing and training talented recruits to allow their seamless transition into future leaders," adds Mr Yu. "We feel responsible for developing and training talented recruits to allow their seamless transition into future leaders" Diverse roles In the construction industry, engineers representing the clients, consultants and contractors perform different tasks. The main responsibilities of a consultant are to ensure operations are carried out to specific standards and in accordance with specifications and safety requirements, monitoring and ensuring performance is in sync with the terms and conditions agreed upon between client and contractor. "As contractors our ultimate goal is to complete high quality projects in a given time frame within budget guidelines while respecting the environment and society," Mr Yu explains. However, to provide such service demands continuous cooperation and foresight from all team members. "In general, our professional engineers are specialised in two fields: project planning and on-site supervision. Both play an equally important role in the successful completion of construction projects", he adds. When recruiting new members, the company's primary concern is not a candidate's degree classification. "Personal attributes and attitude are of greater importance," Mr Yu points out. "Communication skills are necessary as we deal with a diverse group of people on a daily basis. Effective communication is as important as technical knowledge. Nevertheless, ongoing learning is encouraged to ensure staff project a proactive, innovative attitude." If the company feels candidates have what it takes, a four-year Scheme A training programme is offered, preparing recruits for the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers exam — the benchmark for qualified engineers in Hong Kong. This structured programme is similar to a four-year university course. The first three years of the programme comprise meticulously planned job rotations and project assignments to achieve the set objectives, while the final one requires recruits to demonstrate practical knowledge and skills through performance in accountable positions. The company's professional tutors and supervisors are appointed to guide and assist with personal development. "The profession itself is not difficult to enter. With a recognised engineering degree, fresh graduates face various career opportunities ahead of them", Mr Yu points out. However, although there are no specific requirements for graduates wishing to pursue a career in the construction industry, candidates must understand the specific roles, diverse work environments and career prospects of each position in the industry. "As engineer practitioners, we must always respect the profession from within and the professional standards we strive to achieve. For this reason our profession is unique and the rewards we reap transcend mere monetary value," he concludes. Salient points Communication skills of utmost importance Four-year programme prepares recruits for examination Rewards stretch beyond monetary value Taken from Career Times 20 October 2007, p. B16 Your comments are welcome at [email protected]