Meet Louis Arnold

Role: Project Co-ordinator

Programme: Graduate Development Programme

Programme year: 2023

Project: CHtM Oldbury

What do you do? I plan and coordinate production activities for live projects, running daily shop-floor meetings and tracking progress against the programme. I manage materials by raising orders, monitoring stock, and coordinating deliveries to align with build sequences. I oversee quality control of manufactured steelwork and assemblies, checking against drawings and specifications and closing out NCRs. I interface with design teams, suppliers, and site teams to resolve queries, mitigate risk, and keep information flowing. I also control costs through accurate take-offs, optimising designs and workflows, and reducing scrap and rework.

What have you done so far that you’re proud of? I’m really happy to have delivered Emberton House on time, making the handover smoother and sharing what we learned along the way. I also took the lead as coordinator for HMP Channings Wood, which was both challenging and rewarding. At Olympia Central and G-Gate, I dove into logistics and quality assurance to keep things moving forward. I also identified and developed the business case for laser cutting technology to reduce rework, improve precision, and lower emissions in CHtM’s steelwork process. Plus, I’ve managed to save costs by using materials more wisely and working out better deals with suppliers.

Why construction? What attracted me to this role was the opportunity to turn complex designs into safe, buildable solutions that make a visible difference to places and communities. It offers a mix of problem-solving, teamwork, and continuous improvement - every day brings a new challenge and tangible results.

What drew you to LOR and the role you applied for? I was drawn to Laing O’Rourke because of its reputation for innovation, offsite manufacturing, and digital delivery, which matched my interest in modern methods of construction. The Graduate Development Programme stood out for its structured learning, real responsibility from day one, and clear pathways to professional registration. CHtM’s manufacturing environment also aligned with my goal to deepen technical understanding following my Civil Engineering degree.

Tips for the recruitment process: To prepare effectively for interviews, I create concise examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) that highlight problem-solving, teamwork, and ownership. With regards to the Laing O'Rourke interview, I researched the company’s projects, manufacturing capabilities, and innovation agenda, linking my examples to those themes to demonstrate alignment. During the interview, I made sure to talk through how I’d approach real-world scenarios and after the interview, I followed up with a brief reflection on what I learned and how I believe I could add value to the team.

What advice would you give to students looking for a graduate or apprenticeship role?: Get comfortable reading drawings and specifications because precision matters. Seek exposure to manufacturing or site environments - even short placements can teach you more than a textbook. Be curious: ask “why” and capture lessons learned, as improvement starts there. Focus on building the basics too; reliability, organisation, and communication go a long way.