Workplus | Real People, Meaningful Careers

School is meant to be the best days of your life. For Jody Wilkinson, that cliché turned out to be true in a way he never expected.

In this episode of Workplus, host Richard Kirk sits down with Jody Wilkinson, Managing Director at Henry Brothers, whose career in construction started, unintentionally, helping the caretakers maintain his old 1700s school building. What followed was a career spanning quantity surveying in London, technical leadership in consultancy, and now managing director of one of Northern Ireland's leading construction companies.

Jody talks candidly about why he chose quantity surveying for all the wrong reasons, why apprenticeships weren't fashionable when he left school in 1997, and how the industry has been transformed by robotics, 3D printed buildings and AI. He also shares honest, practical advice for anyone thinking about a career in construction, and why the industry still has an image problem it needs to shake off.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, young person exploring careers, or someone who thinks construction is just hard hats and diggers, this episode will change how you see the industry.

In This Episode:
 — How a summer job with his school caretakers unintentionally started Jody's career in construction
 — Why he chose quantity surveying, and how wrong his expectations turned out to be
 — What it was really like starting his career in London during the construction boom of the early 2000s
 — The skills that actually make a great quantity surveyor, beyond the maths
 — Why apprenticeships weren't an option when he left school, and how that's changed for the better
 — How 3D printed concrete buildings and robotics are transforming the construction industry
 — Why construction still has an image problem, and what the industry is really made up of today
 — What it means to move from consultancy into running a construction company
 — His advice to his 16 year old self: don't waste your career chasing money
 — What is so good about work, from someone who has spent 26 years building things that last

YouTube Chapters:
 00:00 - Opening quote: leaving things a little better than you found them
 00:16 - Welcome to Workplus
 00:58 - School days and the summer job that started it all
 02:06 - The sailing group and the school caretaker job
 03:22 - Subjects enjoyed at school and A-levels
 04:25 - Choosing quantity surveying, for the wrong reasons
 06:15 - Studying in Edinburgh in the last fee-free year
 07:31 - Working part-time on a building site during university
 09:53 - Graduating into a booming economy and moving to London
 10:57 - What a quantity surveyor actually does day to day
 12:33 - The real skills that make a great quantity surveyor
 13:19 - Advice to his 16 year old self
 14:10 - The move from consultancy to Henry Brothers
 15:03 - Recent projects: an MOT super centre and AMIC
 16:29 - 3D printed concrete buildings
 17:25 - Why labour will always matter, even as the industry changes
 18:38 - Advice for anyone considering a career in construction
 20:37 - Moving into a leadership role as managing director
 23:23 - Building a legacy and finding purpose in construction
 25:35 - What is so good about work?

Thanks for watching Workplus, the podcast that shines a light on the people doing good work across Northern Ireland.

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#CareerDevelopment #Construction #NorthernIrelandCareers #WorkplusPodcast #Apprenticeships #Engineering #YouthEmployment #Innovation

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What's the wrong question to ask about AI and jobs? "Are the machines going to take all our jobs?" Gareth Hetherington has a better one.

In this episode of Workplus, host Richard Kirk sits down with Gareth Hetherington MBE, Director of the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre, one of Northern Ireland's leading economists and the person behind some of the most important research on skills, demographics and the future of work in the region.

Gareth worked three jobs the summer after his GCSEs, fell in love with economics at A-level, built a career across the Northern Ireland Audit Office and PwC, and has spent the last decade producing research that has shaped how politicians, employers and universities think about skills and education pathways. His verdict on AI? It won't take your job. But someone using AI will.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, young person choosing your next step, or an employer trying to understand where the workforce is heading, this episode is packed with evidence-based insight delivered in a way that is anything but dry.

In This Episode:
 — How working seven days a week at sixteen, in a bar, a landscape garden and a mayonnaise factory, shaped Gareth's career thinking
 — Why economics was the first subject he ever fell in love with
 — How a temporary civil service job led to a career in economic policy
 — What the Northern Ireland Skills Barometer actually found, and why it matters for young people today
 — The demographic challenge nobody is talking about: fewer young people entering the workforce
 — Why the Saturday job is more important than ever for developing the skills employers actually want
 — What transversal skills are and why employers now value them as much as technical qualifications
 — The real question to ask about AI: not whether it will take jobs, but whether it will arrive quickly enough to fill the ones we don't have people for
 — Why AI won't take your job, but someone using AI will
 — What work gives Gareth purpose, and why he is not sure he ever wants to retire

YouTube Chapters:
 00:00 - Opening quote: AI won't take your job, but someone using AI will
 00:23 - Welcome to Workplus
 01:02 - Working seven days a week at sixteen
 03:33 - What those early jobs actually taught him
 05:00 - Falling in love with economics at A-level
 06:30 - Choosing a degree and going to Newcastle
 08:11 - University and the start of a career path
 09:00 - A temporary civil service job that changed everything
 11:00 - The Northern Ireland Audit Office and becoming a qualified accountant
 13:13 - Developing the audit nose
 14:30 - Moving to PwC and economic policy work
 16:25 - Joining Ulster University Economic Policy Centre
 18:01 - What the research says to young people and parents today
 19:00 - The Skills Barometer and the missing middle
 22:17 - The demographic challenge: fewer young people in the workforce
 25:00 - Transversal skills and what employers really want
 27:24 - Why the Saturday job still matters
 30:02 - People buy people, not products
 30:56 - AI and the wrong question
 32:20 - The machines won't come quickly enough
 34:01 - AI optimism and productivity
 38:39 - What happens when one door closes
 41:57 - What is so good about work?

Thanks for watching Workplus, the podcast that shines a light on the people doing good work across Northern Ireland.

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#CareerDevelopment #AI #NorthernIrelandCareers #WorkplusPodcast #Economics #FutureOfWork #Apprenticeships #YouthEmployment #Skills

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What's the best piece of advice Gavin Annon has ever been given? Regret is always harder to deal with than failure. Everything else follows from that.

In this episode of Workplus, host Richard Kirk sits down with Gavin Annon, Chief Sales Officer at Mount Charles Group, one of Northern Ireland's top ten employers with over three and a half thousand people across the island of Ireland. Mount Charles started thirty-eight years ago when Gavin's dad was turned down from the police for being a quarter of an inch too short. What followed was a journey from contract catering with no office, no money and no name, to one of the biggest companies in Ireland.

Gavin's own path was anything but linear. Business information technology at Queen's, a post-grad in chartered marketing, a stint as a professional DJ, and ten years with Tesco before the time felt right to join the family business. His advice to anyone trying to figure out what comes next is simple: don't be afraid of something that isn't normal, fail fast, try hard, and don't rush to find your path.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, young person, or budding entrepreneur, this episode is packed with honest, hard-won insight from someone who has seen both sides of the risk.

In This Episode:
— How a quarter of an inch changed the course of one family's story and created a business empire
— Why Gavin studied business IT, became a professional DJ and spent ten years at Tesco before joining Mount Charles
— Why he'd never recommend a rigid career plan to a sixteen year old
— What makes a great entrepreneur, and what Northern Ireland gets right about taking risks
— The five service lines of Mount Charles and how cleaning started because a cleaner didn't turn up one day
— Why hospitality is never just a stepping stone job
— The casual events team of 1,200 people and how it helps young people try before they buy
— Why Mount Charles has a fully dedicated learning and development team
— His advice to parents: let them breathe, give them the spark, and be there to catch them
— What is so good about work, from someone who has built a career on purpose

YouTube Chapters:
00:00 - Opening quote: regret is harder than failure
00:21 - Welcome to Workplus
01:00 - How Mount Charles started 38 years ago
02:19 - Gavin's career path: Queen's, DJ, Tesco and beyond
04:11 - Choosing business information technology at Queen's
05:24 - Advice for sixteen year olds: don't be afraid of something that isn't normal
06:57 - What makes a great entrepreneur
08:26 - What Mount Charles looks like today
10:45 - Jobs people don't know exist at Mount Charles
12:43 - Opportunities for young people at sixteen
14:23 - Why hospitality is never just a stepping stone
15:45 - The workforce challenge and how Mount Charles responds
16:02 - Learning, development and leadership academies
18:17 - Advice to parents and teachers
20:29 - Let them find their path
23:23 - What is so good about work?

Thanks for watching Workplus, the podcast that shines a light on the people doing good work across Northern Ireland.

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.
#careerdevelopment  #entrepreneurship  #NorthernIrelandCareers #WorkplusPodcast #hospitality  #youthemployment  #apprenticeships 

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What matters more when you're hiring someone new: the grades on the page, or everything else?

For Joanne Lennox, it's everything else.

In this episode of Workplus, host Richard Kirk sits down with Joanne Lennox, Founder of JLC Solutions and one of the people behind one of Northern Ireland's earliest apprenticeship pathways in construction. Joanne spent over thirty years working in the people function, from the shop floor to senior HR leadership, before stepping away from the corporate world to become an independent consultant.

Joanne talks candidly about why she got her first job in a coffee shop just to start earning, why she pushed back on the idea of being "work ready" in favour of being "life ready," and why only 11 percent of employers in Northern Ireland currently offer apprenticeships. She also shares the honest truth about what actually makes a candidate stand out in an interview, and what doesn't.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, young person preparing for interviews, or an employer thinking about building an apprenticeship programme of your own, this episode is full of practical, no-nonsense advice.

In This Episode:

— Why Joanne chose a coffee shop job over anything else, just to start earning

— The difference between being "work ready" and being "life ready"

— What the "people function" really means beyond traditional HR

— How Joanne helped build one of Northern Ireland's first apprenticeship pathways in construction

— Why only 11% of employers in Northern Ireland offer apprenticeships, and why that's a missed opportunity

— What actually differentiates candidates at interview, beyond their grades

— Joanne's honest interview pet peeves after decades on the other side of the table

— Her advice to her own 16-year-old: don't panic, you don't need it all figured out

— What's so good about work, fifteen years after that first coffee shop shift

YouTube Chapters:

00:00 - Welcome to Workplus

00:21 - What did you do for work experience at school?

02:06 - The skills work experience gives you that a classroom can't

04:12 - Work ready vs life ready

06:31 - What is the "people function"?

08:35 - Building a toolkit: how HR skills develop over a career

13:11 - Advice for a 16-year-old trying to choose a path

16:32 - Building one of NI's first apprenticeship pathways

20:03 - What apprenticeships opened up for the organisation

25:33 - Why only 11% of NI employers offer apprenticeships

26:50 - What really differentiates candidates at an interview

30:17 - Interview pet peeves

33:35 - Learning from a degree apprentice in her own team

36:14 - Advice to her 16-year-old self

38:01 - What is so good about work?

Thanks for watching Workplus, the podcast that shines a light on the people doing good work across Northern Ireland.

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#careerdevelopment  #apprenticeships  #northernirelandcareers  #workpluspodcast  #hrleadership  #careeradvice  #youthemployment 

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What does it take to build a rewarding career in engineering — and does it matter how you get there? Not as much as you might think.

In this final episode of the Workplus NIE Networks series, host Richard Kirk sits down with two engineers whose routes into the company couldn't be more different. Joel McCreery studied electrical engineering at Queen's and joined NIE Networks' network innovation team straight from university. 

Sinéad Norwood worked at Next for ten years, was a classroom assistant, and applied for a cable jointing apprenticeship at the age of twenty-six — after watching the children in her class apply during a careers session.

Together, they paint a vivid picture of what a career at NIE Networks really looks like: the variety, the responsibility, the learning, and the sense that no two days are ever quite the same.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, young person exploring careers, or someone thinking about a career change at any age, this episode is full of honest insight about what it means to do work that genuinely matters.

In This Episode:
— How Sinéad went from Next and classroom assistant to cable jointing apprentice at twenty-six
— Why Joel picked up a Queen's engineering brochure in the back of a classroom and never looked back
— What cable jointing actually involves — and why it is probably less dangerous than you think
— How NIE Networks supported Sinéad through a degree in electrical engineering after her apprenticeship
— What the network innovation team does and why flexibility services are key to Northern Ireland's net zero future
— Why resilience and adaptability matter more than any module you studied at university
— What change management looks like inside a major utilities company
— Why no two days are the same — from underground shutdowns to community forums
— The advice both guests would give their sixteen-year-old selves
— Why the possibilities within NIE Networks are, in Sinéad's words, endless

YouTube Chapters:
00:00 - Opening quotes
00:29 - Welcome to Workplus
01:14 - Meet Joel McCreery and Sinéad Norwood
01:20 - School subjects and early interests
02:32 - Sinéad's non-traditional path
03:09 - Joel's part-time work and summer jobs
04:22 - Joel's work experience in aerospace manufacturing
05:51 - How Sinéad's varied career led her to NIE Networks
07:39 - Applying for a cable jointing apprenticeship at twenty-six
08:53 - What cable jointing actually involves
09:54 - From apprentice to graduate: Sinéad's degree journey
11:17 - How Joel found his way to NIE Networks via Queen's and SONI
13:09 - What the network innovation team does
14:57 - Flexibility services and the energy transition
16:16 - Skills needed every day on the job
18:34 - Change management, resilience and adaptability
19:44 - Data, net zero and the future of the network
21:06 - Advice to their sixteen-year-old selves
22:59 - What is so good about work?
25:00 - Closing thoughts

Thanks for watching Workplus, the podcast that shines a light on the people doing good work across Northern Ireland.

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#careerdevelopment  #apprenticeships  #northernirelandcareers  #workpluspodcast  #nienetworks  #energytransition  #womeninengineering  #youthemployment 
 
🎧 Thanks for listening to Workplus, the podcast that brings real jobs into the light.

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What if you don't know what you want to do at sixteen — but you're willing to work hard and stay open to what comes next?
Everything.

Meet Mark Nixon, Head of Digital Delivery at NIE Networks. Mark didn't have a five-year plan when he left secondary school. He studied economics, English, and geography at A-level not because he knew where they'd take him, but because they interested him. His career breakthrough came from a summer placement at an insurance company, then a clerical trainee role at Northern Ireland Electricity managing the company fleet.

But here's where the story shifts: Mark became curious about the IT systems behind his job. An aptitude test, a programming course in Austria, and thirty years of growing expertise transformed him into one of the people driving net zero ambitions across Northern Ireland. He even left NIE for eleven years to develop himself elsewhere — then came back stronger, eventually leading the entire digital delivery function.

This is a story about attitude, openness, and the power of a strong work ethic. Mark's advice to his younger self applies to anyone questioning their path: don't stress about knowing exactly what you want to do. Find an organisation that lets you explore, stay honest, work hard, and stay open to opportunities as they come.

In This Episode:
• Why not knowing your career direction at sixteen is completely normal
• From clerical trainee to Head of Digital Delivery
• The one thing that matters more than qualifications
• Why technology and IT are genuinely solid career choices right now
• Cybersecurity as a fast-growing, essential field
• How IT systems are central to achieving net zero
• Using data to make safer, smarter decisions on energy networks
• What it means to work as part of Northern Ireland's fabric
• Developing and leading the next generation of talent
• How the meaning of work evolves as your career grows

YouTube Chapters:
0:00 – Why technology is a strong career path
1:34 – School subjects and career uncertainty
2:36 – First work experience at Friends Provident
3:59 – The power of being part of a team
6:07 – First real job: clerical trainee at NIE Networks
7:10 – Managing the vehicle fleet
8:20 – How curiosity sparked a career change
10:12 – Discovering your passion through doing
11:44 – What really drives success in tech
12:30 – Attitude and work ethic are everything
14:08 – Why IT is central to decarbonisation
14:45 – Technology as a solid, secure career choice
16:29 – The huge demand for cybersecurity skills
18:25 – Being part of the fabric of Northern Ireland
20:03 – Advice to your sixteen-year-old self
21:25 – Career growth, leaving, and coming back
22:59 – What's really good about work

Thanks for watching Workplus, the podcast that shines a light on the people doing good work across Northern Ireland.

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#Workplus #CareerAdvice #Technology #CareersInTech #NIENetworks #NorthernIreland #NetZero #YoungPeople #CareerJourney #Podcast

🎧 Thanks for listening to Workplus, the podcast that brings real jobs into the light.
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What does telling the story behind the numbers have to do with building a meaningful career? Everything.

In this episode of Workplus, host Richard Kirk sits down with Claire Woolsey, Senior Manager of Financial Planning & Regulation at NIE Networks, whose career journey — from a village bakery and university summer jobs to leading a team at the heart of Northern Ireland's energy transition — proves that you don't need a maths A-level to thrive in finance. You just need curiosity, people skills, and the courage to take a leap of faith.

From a joint law and accountancy degree at Queen's, to a training contract at EY, to a 20-year career at NIE Networks that she genuinely loves, Claire's story shows how following your interests — even when you're not sure where they'll lead — can take you further than any fixed plan.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, young person exploring careers, or someone considering a move into finance or the energy sector, this episode is packed with honest insights about career progression, leadership, and what it really means to do work that matters.

In This Episode:

- Why geography, history and politics at A-level led to a career in accountancy
- The part-time jobs that built the skills Claire uses every day as a senior leader
- What a training contract at EY really involves — and why Saturday classes are part of the deal
- The temporary role at NIE Networks that became a 20-year career
- What financial planning looks like when you're forecasting a decade into the future
- How NIE Networks supported Claire through maternity leave, job shares and flexible working
- Why the most important skill in finance is telling the story behind the numbers
- What it means to lead a team with purpose — and make people feel genuinely valued
- NIE Networks' triple Investors in People accreditation — the only company in the UK to achieve it
- Claire's advice to her 16-year-old self: follow your passion, embrace the tough moments, grasp every opportunity

00:00 - Opening quote: Leading the team is the privilege of my role
00:28 - Welcome to Workplus
01:06 - Meet Claire Woolsey
01:20 - School days: geography, history, politics — and PE
02:50 - Part-time jobs: the bakery, the lifeguard pool and the electoral canvass
05:00 - The skills those jobs built — and why they still matter
07:05 - Choosing a degree: law, accountancy and a year in the States
08:12 - Why you don't need maths at A-level to work in finance
09:29 - The story behind the numbers
10:00 - From EY to NIE: a leap of faith on a temporary contract
12:57 - What's changed at NIE Networks in 20 years
14:29 - Flexible working, job shares and balancing a career with family
15:18 - Financial planning and the energy transition
16:08 - Regulatory finance and what a price control involves
16:35 - Leading a team of eight with purpose
19:25 - Advice to her 16-year-old self
20:03 - What's so good about work?
21:27 - Closing thoughts


Thanks for watching Workplus, the podcast that shines a light on the people doing good work across Northern Ireland.

Find more stories, resources, and tools to help guide the next generation at https://www.workplus.app/. 
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#CareerDevelopment #Finance #NorthernIrelandCareers #WorkplusPodcast #NIENetworks
#EnergyTransition #Apprenticeships #YouthEmployment

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What does stepping outside your comfort zone have to do with building a successful career? Everything.

In this episode of Workplus, host Richard Kirk sits down with Paula Leathem, Head of Human Resources at NIE Networks, whose remarkable journey from clerical apprentice to senior leader proves that the opportunities that challenge us most are often the ones that shape our futures. From working in a newsagent at 13 to leading HR for Northern Ireland's electricity network, Paula's story shows how curiosity, respect, and seizing opportunities can unlock unexpected career paths—even if you don't have it all figured out at 16.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, young person exploring careers, or an HR professional, this episode is packed with honest insights about apprenticeships, career progression, and the future of work in the energy sector.

In This Episode:

• Why practical subjects and team sports matter more than you think
• The value of early work experience—from newsagents to care homes
• How Paula went from customer service to leading HR (without an HR degree)
• What NIE Networks offers beyond STEM: finance, IT, procurement, and more
• The future of green skills and achieving net zero
• Why AI won't replace people—but will change how we work
• The surprising role of cyber security in electricity networks
• Paula's advice to her 16-year-old self: embrace the uncomfortable
• What makes work meaningful (hint: it's about people)

YouTube Chapters:

00:00 - Opening quote: Don't be afraid to take opportunities 

00:28 - Welcome to Workplus 

01:09 - Meet Paula Leathem 

01:20 - School days: favourite subjects and team sports 

2:46 - Early work experience in newsagents and care homes

04:10 - Making the leap after school 

05:14 - Starting as an apprentice at NIE Networks 

06:22 - The challenge and reward of customer service 

07:09 - From customer service to HR leadership 1

0:33 - Apprenticeship and graduate programmes at NIE Networks 

12:03 - Opportunities beyond STEM subjects 

12:56 - Green skills and the future of energy work 

14:19 - Cyber security in the electricity network 

15:34 - Advice to her 16-year-old self 

16:27 - What's so good about work? 

17:15 - Closing thoughts

Thanks for watching Workplus, the podcast that shines a light on the people doing good work across Northern Ireland.

Find more stories, resources, and tools to help guide the next generation at workplus.app

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#CareerDevelopment #Apprenticeships #NorthernIrelandCareers #WorkplusPodcast #HRLeadership #GreenSkills #NIENetworks #YouthEmployment

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What if the skills that define your career didn't come from a classroom, but from behind a shop counter?
In this episode of Workplus, host Richard Kirk sits down with Dr Caoimhe Archibald, Economy Minister for Northern Ireland. Dr Archibald shares how early work experience shaped her leadership journey — from part-time jobs that built confidence and people skills, to her current passion for apprenticeships as a pathway to real opportunity. This is a conversation about earning while learning, breaking down barriers to employment, and why the skills that matter most are often learned on the job. If you've ever wondered how great careers are really built, this episode is for you.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Early work experience builds confidence, judgment and essential people skills
• Part-time jobs teach skills that can't be learned in a classroom alone
• Apprenticeships allow Career explorers to earn and learn simultaneously
• Employers benefit from growing talent shaped for the real world
• Work-based learning builds practical confidence alongside technical skills

ABOUT THE GUEST

Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA serves as Economy Minister for Northern Ireland, championing apprenticeships and skills development across the region. Her own career journey began with part-time work that taught her invaluable lessons about confidence, people skills, and professional judgment — experiences that continue to inform her leadership today.

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What if a boxing club could help change a young person’s life forever?

In this episode of Workplus, host Richard Kirk sits down with Nathan Lowry, Life Skills Coach at Monkstown Boxing Club. Nathan shares how the club has evolved from a traditional boxing gym into a powerful community hub, supporting hundreds of young people across Northern Ireland every year. From helping with CVs to building confidence and breaking intergenerational cycles, Nathan’s story is one of deep purpose and practical hope. If you’ve ever wondered what great youth work really looks like, this episode is for you.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Monkstown Boxing Club supports over 500 young people a year
• The club offers boxing, education, mentoring, and community programmes
• Nathan’s role focuses on employability and well-being for ages 16–24
• Confidence is a major barrier for young people entering work
• Employers often miss chances to engage future talent through work experience
• Nathan overcame low confidence through mentors and volunteering
• He now mentors others through Workplus and other programmes
• Youth work is about consistency, trust, and showing up
• Long-term funding is critical for real impact in youth services
• Seeing a young person grow is more powerful than any paycheque

BEST MOMENTS

00:00:04. “It gets me up out of bed every morning.”
00:01:14. “Everyone thinks it's just boxing. Our slogan is 'not just a boxing club.’”
00:02:43. “We interact with around 500 young people annually.”
00:04:02. “It started off in the local community centre as a boxing club.”
00:06:13. “The employer doesn’t want to hear from mummy. They want to hear from the young person.”
00:12:01. “There are probably two youth workers I could tell you, if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here.”
00:17:19. “They’re the ones who wrote the application and nailed the interview.”
00:27:29. “For me that was priceless, seeing kids come right out and be a better version of themselves.”
00:33:14. “We never expect young people to return as volunteers, but they always come back.”
00:36:22. “If you do something you love, you never work a day in your life.”

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