STARK Building Materials UK has launched Working at STARK, a new careers website designed to “show young people, career changers and returners the breadth of careers available across the building materials sector.”
And to make the point, the new site puts STARK UK’s own colleagues front and centre. Through testimonials and video case studies, it shows the many routes people have taken through the business rather than a single career path, including colleagues who have benefitted from flexible working arrangements that have helped them to develop in their careers.
One example is Shelley Mahon-Bierton, now branch manager at Cranleigh who previously worked in a number of roles including as a driver and in sales and operational roles before making the switch and progressing into branch leadership (see panel below for more on her story).
The launch supports STARK UK’s annual apprenticeship intake. Since 2023, the business reports it has supported more than 600 apprenticeships across 19 programmes spanning merchanting, driving, tool hire, project management, digital and AI, all of which are funded through the Apprenticeship Levy.
Alongside apprenticeships, it also runs accelerated development and management trainee programmes to equip team members with the skills and expertise to enable them to progress into more senior roles. Indeed, many of the business’ senior leaders started their own careers working in the yard or in branches, or as management trainees.
“Merchants offer some of the most varied careers in the sector. Too often young people don’t see that. They don’t realise you can start as an apprentice in a branch or behind the wheel of a lorry, and end up running a branch, managing projects or working in digital and AI.”
The new website uses AI-powered technology to personalise the users’ experience. As they navigate the platform, it learns from their activity and builds a profile that shapes the roles, articles and content they see.
Carol Kavanagh, HR Director at STARK UK, said: “The trades build Britain, and the merchants that supply them offer some of the most varied careers in the sector. Too often young people don’t see that. They don’t realise you can start as an apprentice in a branch or behind the wheel of a lorry, and end up running a branch, managing projects or working in digital and AI.
“Our new careers website lets our people tell that story themselves. Many people don’t know where they’d fit until they see the options. The site helps point them to the right role from day one.
Carol continued: “We want anyone thinking about their next step, whether they’re leaving school, changing career or coming back to work to see that there’s a place for them at STARK UK and a clear route to grow.”
The launch comes as the industry faces a widening skills gap. One third of the UK’s current construction workforce is set to retire by 2035 and there are not enough new entrants into the sector to replace them. At the same time, ONS data shows 981,000 young people were not in work, education or training between April and June this year, representing one out of eight 16-24 year olds.
The new website is part of STARK UK’s ongoing commitment to supporting and championing the trades. Earlier this year, it launched the Let’s Get Britain Building NOW! campaign, calling on Government to do more to support the industry, including investing in incentives that encourage people into building and construction careers, and speeding up workforce training and recruitment.
The new recruitment website puts this advocacy into practice, promoting routes into the sector for the people needed to deliver much-needed homes and infrastructure.
The new careers website is live at www.careers.starkbuild.co.uk
Case Study: Shelley Mahon-Bierton
Shelley Mahon-Bierton, Branch Manager at Surrey & Sussex, explains how being open to opportunities can bring great things.
From working in the yard to understanding transport, sales and operations, Shelley “didn’t just learn one part of the business, she learned all of it.” Building up a well-rounded skillset, she said: “I understood how the yard worked… the challenges of transport… the buzz of getting sales… the all-important admin.”
At one point, Shelley decided she wanted to push herself even further and gain a completely new skill, so she funded her own HGV licence. She said: “I basically wanted another feather in my cap… so decided to invest in my own education.” She then went on to drive 18 and 26 tonne vehicles, adding even more hands-on experience to her skillset, before moving into branch leadership with a much deeper understanding of the operation with that breadth of experience giving her the confidence to step up.
Shelley explained that she built her career through hands-on experience, learning every part of the business, asking questions, getting involved: “When you’re younger, it’s easy to ask questions – what does that do? How does that work? And builders love to chat about what they do and share it with anyone who wants to listen!”
Shelley moved through roles, built deep operational knowledge and is now running a high-performing branch.
Find out more via careers.starkbuild.co.uk
