Lewis McQueer is a Junior Consultant at Blueprint Project Solutions, which is a specialist project controls consultancy, as well as an Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) Approved Training Provider.
The 22-year-old did a politics degree at Cardiff University and had initially been set to explore a career in law via a conversion course after his degree to become a lawyer.
It was a chance meeting with the team at Blueprint that changed his career path. At a Christmas party where he was working in a bar at Celtic Manor in his second year, Lewis got speaking with the team which sparked his interest.
This interest grew thanks to a two-week internship at the consultancy, during which he explored the world of project controls. This led to Lewis being offered a graduate position after completing his degree. He then completed training modules and got on-the-job experience working with clients between September 2023 and October 2024.
A few weeks after being promoted to become a junior consultant, we caught up with Lewis at Project Controls Expo 2024 at Wembley Stadium in London to find out more about his project controls journey.
He said: “I wasn’t aware of what project controls was while I was in school, but I’m really glad I discovered it.
“I’ve always enjoyed working with people, but I wasn’t sure which career would be best for me. Project controls provides exposure to a diverse range of individuals at all levels, working alongside remarkable professionals in project delivery environments.
“It’s an incredibly exciting field full of opportunities, which is why I’m so passionate about it.
“Project controls has been great fun because it suits the way my mind works. I enjoy the variety it offers, getting involved in and gaining exposure to different parts of projects, rather than pigeonholing myself into a single area. It’s fascinating to see how all the pieces come together.”
Learning project controls basics and upskilling
As well as working with clients in his project controls work at Blueprint, Lewis also works with the Blueprint Academy, which is the consultancy’s learning arm.
Blueprint has a suite of project controls training designed by industry experts against Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) training standards. These modules are delivered by accredited Blueprint trainers who have many years’ experience working in project controls and are actively working on major projects.
Lewis completed the full suite of its modules, which encompass all the basics of project controls to better understand areas such as planning, risk, cost, estimating, change control and commercial management. He followed this up with a raft of different professional qualifications.
“It’s crucial to continually upskill, especially at my level, to gain a solid understanding of best practices across the entire project controls suite and stay informed about everything happening across different disciplines,” he said.
“Understanding best practices is essential not only for those entering the world of project controls but also for experienced professionals, as the field is constantly evolving.”
Any advice for those considering a career in project controls?
“It’s a great career for someone who wants a bit of variety and doesn’t want to necessarily pin themselves down in one direction,” added Lewis.
“I’d recommend starting with some research on project controls and exploring the various sectors where it plays a key role, such as infrastructure, energy, and defence.”
The ECITB’s project control training courses and qualifications provide skills training and occupational verification for all roles from technician to professional project controllers, estimators, planners, schedulers and cost engineers.
Developed with industry stakeholders, they focus on developing technical expertise as well as honing communication skills, fostering governance acumen, promoting continuous improvement, leveraging data analytics and contributing to carbon reduction and environmental sustainability.
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