Page 3 - WM Donald Newsletter - Edition Six

LISTEN UP.
THIS IS IMPORTANT.
THIS COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE.
Construction is a great industry to work in: the outdoor life; the satisfaction of making something; the teamwork and camaraderie.
So, here are some sobering thoughts. Construction has the highest incidence of mental health issues of any industry. Suicide kills far more construction workers than falls. Every day, two construction workers take their own lives. Why? There are probably multiple reasons. We are living and working longer. The proportion of the construction workforce aged 55 to 65 continues to grow. Maybe it’s because construction is a male-dominated, some might say ‘macho’, industry?
Whatever the causes, you can be part of the solution. It’s simple: be a better colleague, be a better friend. If you think one of your workmates is struggling – silly errors, loss of concentration, quieter than usual – just ask if you can help in any way.
If you personally are permanently tired, feeling anxious or depressed, running on auto-pilot, speak to someone: your partner, a good mate, your GP. A problem shared is well on the way to being a problem halved.
There are several websites that can help too: www.thecalmzone.net and www.matesinmind.org
At W M Donald we want everyone to feel it is OK to be open and honest about their health and mental wellbeing. We appreciate this won’t happen overnight.
If you want to talk in confidence about a problem contact me on 07989 352487 or by email at eilidh. cameron@wmdonald.co.uk.
Eilidh Cameron
KATY SHORTLISTED AT TRADES AWARDS 2018
Katy Forbes, Senior Quantity Surveyor at W M Donald, was shortlisted in the ‘Young Construction Professional’ category at the recent Trades Awards 2018.
Difficult family circumstances meant Katy had to leave home at 16. Despite outstanding academic achievements in her Standard Grades, in order to support herself Katy took a job as a cleaner with Betts Homes. She has worked in the construction industry ever since.
‘I first met Katy when she was managing a Betts Homes site in Aberdeen; she told me to book in or she would remove me from the site! She impressed me from our first meeting with her work ethic. Since joining W M Donald in 2013, Katy has made a huge contribution to our success and is now our senior quantity surveyor. In addition to her technical knowledge and commitment, Katy is blessed with skills that cannot be taught. For one so young, Katy has a gravitas that commands immediate respect from her colleagues, clients and suppliers. She has an open, honest and no-nonsense approach to communications that gets things done, and she is a natural leader. As a company, we are committed to supporting Katy in her continuing education. I believe it won’t be long before Katy is ready to join our senior leadership team. I look forward to working with her for many years to come.’
Willie Donald
‘I have worked on projects with Katy since she first joined W M Donald some five years ago. Katy is simply a good person to be around. She is honest, frank and straightforward; there are no hidden agendas. Katy’s approach makes everyone’s life easier. Issues that in the wrong hands could flare up are dealt with. She has a very bright future ahead of her.’ Paul McMillan,
Consulting Engineer, Fairhurst
‘From an academic perspective, I have not followed the traditional degree-led route into quantity surveying. W M Donald has supported my ambition to achieve RICS registration and to further my QS education. The company has also enabled me to maintain my Site Management Safety Training Scheme (SMSTS) accreditation which is really important to me. From the first day I have received tremendous support and encouragement from my colleagues.’ Katy Forbes
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